--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us first be as simple and well as…" description: "\"Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores. Do not s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/henry-david-thoreau-20_brows_let-us-first-be-as-simple-and-well-as-na_1894438.jpg" --- # Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves… ![“Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores. Do not stay to be an overseer of the poor, but endeavor to become one of the worthies of the world.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/henry-david-thoreau-20_brows_let-us-first-be-as-simple-and-well-as-na_1894438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/henry-david-thoreau-20_brows_let-us-first-be-as-simple-and-well-as-na_1894438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a6/henry-david-thoreau-20_brows_let-us-first-be-as-simple-and-well-as-na_1894438.jpg) > “Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores. Do not stay to be an overseer of the poor, but endeavor to become one of the worthies of the world.” [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. Simplify life, align with nature, and serve others modestly rather than seeking authority. **In simple terms:** Live simply, help others, avoid power‑hungry roles. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and natural simplicity. Themes simplicity nature service Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - environmental activism - community service - personal growth - minimalist living Key Concepts transcendentalism self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - What simple habit could you adopt today? - How can you serve others without seeking recognition? A Different Perspective Modern society often rewards status over humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Hang over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hang-over/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“If then, we would indeed restore mankind by truly botanic, magnetic, or natural means, let us first be as simple and well as Nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-then-we-would-indeed-restore-mankind-by-truly-botanic-magnetic-or/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Now listen, guuuyyysss! Come on guys. Let's all, come on, let's be simple about this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/now-listen-guuuyyysss-come-on-guys-let-s-all-come-on-let-s-be-simple/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [Or, rather, let us be more simple and less vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/or-rather-let-us-be-more-simple-and-less-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Decide to get over it. You know, just let it go. It can be that simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/decide-to-get-over-it-you-know-just-let-it-go-it-can-be-that-simple/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Move forward and let others do the same. Simple. This is a guiding principle everyone should have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/move-forward-and-let-others-do-the-same-simple-this-is-a-guiding/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Let us dig our gardens and not be elsewhere; Let us take long walks in the open air... Let us bathe in the rivers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-linssen/let-us-dig-our-gardens-and-not-be-elsewhere-let-us-take-long-walks-in/) [Robert Linssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-linssen/) > [“Life Is ‘Simple’ By Nature... The deeper you try to study, the more you complicate it. Just believe in it’s simplicity & it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sujit-lalwani/life-is-simple-by-nature-the-deeper-you-try-to-study-the-more-you/) [Sujit Lalwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sujit-lalwani/) > [If you will cling to Nature, to the simple in Nature, to the little things that hardly anyone sees, and that can so unexpectedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/if-you-will-cling-to-nature-to-the-simple-in-nature-to-the-little/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“Fucking bastards are simple by nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/fucking-bastards-are-simple-by-nature/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“And ’tis most evident and plain that simple Nature is the most harmless, inoffensive, and virtuous mistress. ’Tis she alone, if she were permitted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aphra-behn/and-tis-most-evident-and-plain-that-simple-nature-is-the-most/) [Aphra Behn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aphra-behn/) > [“When we allow the genius of simple nature to flow through us we become every genius who has ever lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-allow-the-genius-of-simple-nature-to-flow-through-us-we/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/do-not-act-as-if-you-were-going-to-live-ten-thousand-years-death/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Enjoy your life. No curse hangs over you, nor did it ever. No devil chases after your soul. Sing and dance and be merry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-pike/enjoy-your-life-no-curse-hangs-over-you-nor-did-it-ever-no-devil/) [Christopher Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-pike/) > [I have actually programmed a fair bit in Perl, like I have C++ code published with my name on it. Other things I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/i-have-actually-programmed-a-fair-bit-in-perl-like-i-have-c-code/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [“On a scale of one to bitchy, how hung-over are you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack/on-a-scale-of-one-to-bitchy-how-hung-over-are-you/) [Cora Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack/) ## 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 Brows quotes > [If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/if-wrinkles-must-be-written-on-our-brows-let-them-not-be-written-upon/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Strong brows is what I have, and I embrace them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/strong-brows-is-what-i-have-and-i-embrace-them/) [Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/) > [Keep your brow game on point and always pack a lip gloss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinashe/keep-your-brow-game-on-point-and-always-pack-a-lip-gloss/) [Tinashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinashe/) > [There is no greater injustice than to wring your profits from the sweat of another man's brow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/there-is-no-greater-injustice-than-to-wring-your-profits-from-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I've been blessed with good eyebrows, and I've worked very hard for them. Get a good brow pencil, fill them in a bit, make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zendaya/i-ve-been-blessed-with-good-eyebrows-and-i-ve-worked-very-hard-for/) [Zendaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zendaya/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Some people criticize me for using sources that are a bit low brow (this quote is from 'Gladiator') but you know what? 'I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-criticize-me-for-using-sources-that-are-a-bit-low-brow/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/she-stretched-out-her-hand-saying-vernon-my-dear-what-a-delightful/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [When I know I have a huge shoot, I’ll just go into the sauna and steam out my face. Product-wise, I don’t really do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-iman/when-i-know-i-have-a-huge-shoot-i-ll-just-go-into-the-sauna-and-steam/) [Chanel Iman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-iman/) > [Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/angels-are-bright-still-though-the-brightest-fell/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I ain't the captain of the yacht, but I'm on the boat; I ain't acting what I'm not, knowing that I don't. You niggaz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beanie-sigel/i-ain-t-the-captain-of-the-yacht-but-i-m-on-the-boat-i-ain-t-acting/) [Beanie Sigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beanie-sigel/) > [Senseless is the breast and cold Which relenting love would fold; Bloodless are the veins and chill Which the pulse of pain did fill;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/senseless-is-the-breast-and-cold-which-relenting-love-would-fold/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [When book and reader's furrowed brow meet, it isn't always the book that's stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/when-book-and-reader-s-furrowed-brow-meet-it-isn-t-always-the-book/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [Certain media attracts more pulpy or low-brow things, especially when they're young. Finding the best story, in any particular medium, is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/certain-media-attracts-more-pulpy-or-low-brow-things-especially-when/) [Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/) > [I have never done anything to my brows, though sometimes I tweeze the intersection of the left and right brow, which is either a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leandra-medine/i-have-never-done-anything-to-my-brows-though-sometimes-i-tweeze-the/) [Leandra Medine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leandra-medine/) Browse all 336 Brows quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores. 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