--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is now many years that men have…" description: "\"It is now many years that men have resorted to the forest for fuel and the materials of the arts: the New Englander and the New Hollander, the Parisian..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/henry-david-thoreau-20_aristocracy_it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resor_3219857.jpg" --- # It is now many years that men have resorted to the forest… ![“It is now many years that men have resorted to the forest for fuel and the materials of the arts: the New Englander and the New Hollander, the Parisian and the Celt, the farmer and Robin Hood, Goody Blake and Harry Gill; in most parts of the world, the prince and the peasant, the scholar and the…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/henry-david-thoreau-20_aristocracy_it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resor_3219857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/henry-david-thoreau-20_aristocracy_it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resor_3219857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/henry-david-thoreau-20_aristocracy_it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resor_3219857.jpg) > “It is now many years that men have resorted to the forest for fuel and the materials of the arts: the New Englander and the New Hollander, the Parisian and the Celt, the farmer and Robin Hood, Goody Blake and Harry Gill; in most parts of the world, the prince and the peasant, the scholar and the savage, equally require still a few sticks from the forest to warm them and cook their food. Neither could I do without them.” [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. Human societies, across cultures and classes, continually depend on forest resources for basic needs like fuel and materials. **In simple terms:** People rely on forests for everyday essentials. Key Takeaway Conserve and responsibly use forest resources. Themes environment dependence resource use Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical environmental When to use this quote - rural living - urban heating - craftsmanship - survival situations Key Concepts sustainability ecology tradition Questions to Reflect On - What sustainable alternatives can replace forest resources? - How does cultural heritage influence resource use? A Different Perspective Modern alternatives may reduce reliance but not eliminate it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Celts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celts/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Forests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forests/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Peasants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peasants/) [Robin hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robin-hood/) [Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robins/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) [Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [In their efforts to provide a sufficiency of water where there was not one, men have resorted to every expedient from prayer to dynamite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-prescott-webb/in-their-efforts-to-provide-a-sufficiency-of-water-where-there-was/) Walter Prescott Webb > [“Already it is twilight down in the Laredito. Bats fly forth from their roostings in courthouse and tower and circle the quarter. The air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/already-it-is-twilight-down-in-the-laredito-bats-fly-forth-from-their/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“For two hundred and fifty years the kzinti had not attacked human space. They had nothing to attack with. For two hundred and fifty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/for-two-hundred-and-fifty-years-the-kzinti-had-not-attacked-human/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [The first testicular gaurd, the \*Cup\*, was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-morgan/the-first-testicular-gaurd-the-cup-was-used-in-hockey-in-1874-and-the/) [Harriet Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-morgan/) > [Then I will tell you something. I do not believe in it. Forty years among men has consistently taught me that they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/then-i-will-tell-you-something-i-do-not-believe-in-it-forty-years/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [For at least 2,000,000 years men have been reproducing and multiplying on a little automated spaceship called earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/for-at-least-2-000-000-years-men-have-been-reproducing-and/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [Women are the right age for just a few years; men, for most of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/women-are-the-right-age-for-just-a-few-years-men-for-most-of-their/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [We remember not the scores and the results in after years; it is the men who remain in our minds, in our imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-cardus/we-remember-not-the-scores-and-the-results-in-after-years-it-is-the/) [Neville Cardus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-cardus/) > [For more than three thousand years men have quarreled concerning the formulas of their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/for-more-than-three-thousand-years-men-have-quarreled-concerning-the/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [But fortunately for us and for all men, it has not been given unto us to judge, nor to execute, nor to measure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-l-evans/but-fortunately-for-us-and-for-all-men-it-has-not-been-given-unto-us/) [Richard L. Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-l-evans/) > [Men's best friends last you only 20 years, but men's best brothers will last you for the rest of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/men-s-best-friends-last-you-only-20-years-but-men-s-best-brothers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For thousands of years, men have written history, so it seems to me that most of what we've read is from the male point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/for-thousands-of-years-men-have-written-history-so-it-seems-to-me/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [“The wrath of God lies sleeping. It was hid a million years before men were and only men have the power to wake it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/the-wrath-of-god-lies-sleeping-it-was-hid-a-million-years-before-men/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [In a few years, men will be able to communicate more effectively through a machine than face to face. That is a rather startling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-r-licklider/in-a-few-years-men-will-be-able-to-communicate-more-effectively/) [J. C. R. Licklider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-r-licklider/) > [“I know precisely what honor is, Heracles. Honor is the artifice kings sell the peasants’ sons so that they may fight and die without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bes/i-know-precisely-what-honor-is-heracles-honor-is-the-artifice-kings/) Bes ## 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 Aristocracy quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is... an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents... The artificial aristocracy is a mischievous ingredient in government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/there-is-an-artificial-aristocracy-founded-on-wealth-and-birth/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) > [Tomorrow every Duchess in London will be waiting to kiss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macdonald/tomorrow-every-duchess-in-london-will-be-waiting-to-kiss-me/) [Ramsay MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macdonald/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power … but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-n-aron/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a-2/) [Elaine N. Aron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-n-aron/) > [Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/books-are-the-treasured-wealth-of-the-world-and-the-fit-inheritance/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We stand a better chance with aristocracy, whether hereditary or elective, than with monarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-stiles/we-stand-a-better-chance-with-aristocracy-whether-hereditary-or/) [Ezra Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-stiles/) > [ The law for religious freedom... \[has\]put down the aristocracy of the clergy and restored to the citizen the freedom of the mind. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-law-for-religious-freedom-has-put-down-the-aristocracy-of-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) [Browse all 426 Aristocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is now many years that men have resorted to the forest for fuel and the materials of the arts: the New Englander and the New Hollander, the Parisian and the Celt, the farmer and Robin Hood, Goody Blake and Harry Gill; in most parts of the world, the prince and the peasant, the scholar and the savage, equally require still a few sticks from the forest to warm them and cook their food. Neither could I do without them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resorted-to-the-forest-for-fuel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resorted-to-the-forest-for-fuel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/henry-david-thoreau-20_aristocracy_it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resor_3219857.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/henry-david-thoreau-20_aristocracy_it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resor_3219857.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/henry-david-thoreau-20_aristocracy_it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resor_3219857.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is now many years that men have resorted to the forest for fuel and the materials of the arts: the New…” — Henry David Thoreau", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry David Thoreau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is now many years that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resorted-to-the-forest-for-fuel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-now-many-years-that-men-have-resorted-to-the-forest-for-fuel/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```