--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is desirable that a man live in all…" description: "\"It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he can walk out the gate empty-handed and wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/henry-david-thoreau-20_anxiety_it-is-desirable-that-a-man-live-in-all-r_2562575.jpg" --- # It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply… ![“It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/henry-david-thoreau-20_anxiety_it-is-desirable-that-a-man-live-in-all-r_2562575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/henry-david-thoreau-20_anxiety_it-is-desirable-that-a-man-live-in-all-r_2562575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b14/henry-david-thoreau-20_anxiety_it-is-desirable-that-a-man-live-in-all-r_2562575.jpg) > “It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Live simply and be ready so that loss of possessions causes no distress. **In simple terms:** Simple living prevents anxiety over loss. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑sufficiency and calm. Themes simplicity self‑reliance peace of mind Mood reflective calm Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - financial crisis - home invasion - natural disaster - personal loss Key Concepts Stoicism minimalism resilience Questions to Reflect On - How would you feel if you lost everything you own? - What habits can you adopt to reduce attachment? A Different Perspective Even with preparation, unexpected events can still cause emotional turmoil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Desirable Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desirable-man-1534928/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gates/) [Man Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-live/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respects Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respects-simply-1619534/) [Simply Preparedly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply-preparedly-1619535/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) [Walk Gate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-gate-710686/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [It is desirable that a man be clad so simply that he can lay his hands on himself in the dark, and that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-desirable-that-a-man-be-clad-so-simply-that-he-can-lay-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When I walk through that gate to the court, that's my escape. I block out everything, good and bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/when-i-walk-through-that-gate-to-the-court-that-s-my-escape-i-block/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [“Some women, it seemed, were entirely without guile and bestowed their affections with hardly a moment's conscious thought. Others set out to implement a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/some-women-it-seemed-were-entirely-without-guile-and-bestowed-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The most desirable man in my opinion is Sidharth Shukla and among women, I think of myself as being desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehnaaz-gill/the-most-desirable-man-in-my-opinion-is-sidharth-shukla-and-among/) [Shehnaaz Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehnaaz-gill/) > [Somehow, I'm in denial about being desirable. But every time my wife tells me to shave or cut my hair or clean up my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dulquer-salmaan/somehow-i-m-in-denial-about-being-desirable-but-every-time-my-wife/) [Dulquer Salmaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dulquer-salmaan/) > [But for we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare... are to be found portrayed in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/but-for-we-could-not-know-right-from-wrong-all-things-most-desirable/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [I would be lying if I said I'm not flattered being voted as the 'Time's' Most Desirable Man of 2012. Frankly, I have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-rampal/i-would-be-lying-if-i-said-i-m-not-flattered-being-voted-as-the-time/) [Arjun Rampal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-rampal/) > [“He was quite possibly the most desirable man she had ever had the good fortune to lay her eyes upon and she had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-p-mandara/he-was-quite-possibly-the-most-desirable-man-she-had-ever-had-the/) [C.P. Mandara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-p-mandara/) > [“I think if you give most men the choice between a highly skilled woman in the bedroom and a woman who is insatiable, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-luke/i-think-if-you-give-most-men-the-choice-between-a-highly-skilled/) [Jason Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-luke/) > [You will pardon some obscurities, for there are more secrets in my trade than in most men's, and yet not voluntarily kept, but inseparable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/you-will-pardon-some-obscurities-for-there-are-more-secrets-in-my/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [To rise at six, to dine at ten, To sup at six, to sleep at ten, Makes a man live for ten times ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-rise-at-six-to-dine-at-ten-to-sup-at-six-to-sleep-at-ten-makes-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The only man who can not live without women, the gynecologist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-man-who-can-not-live-without-women-the-gynecologist/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where flowers degenerate man cannot live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/where-flowers-degenerate-man-cannot-live/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/the-proper-function-of-man-is-to-live-not-to-exist/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [If a man is to live, he must be all alive, body, soul, mind, heart, spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-a-man-is-to-live-he-must-be-all-alive-body-soul-mind-heart-spirit/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. 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