--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nearest to all things is that power which…" description: "\"Nearest to all things is that power which fashions their being. Next to us the grandest laws are constantly being executed. Next to us is not the workm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/henry-david-thoreau-20_all-things_nearest-to-all-things-is-that-power-whic_26496.jpg" --- # Nearest to all things is that power which fashions their… ![“Nearest to all things is that power which fashions their being. Next to us the grandest laws are constantly being executed. Next to us is not the workman whom we have hired, with whom we love so well to talk, but the workman whose work we are.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/henry-david-thoreau-20_all-things_nearest-to-all-things-is-that-power-whic_26496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/henry-david-thoreau-20_all-things_nearest-to-all-things-is-that-power-whic_26496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/169/henry-david-thoreau-20_all-things_nearest-to-all-things-is-that-power-whic_26496.jpg) > “Nearest to all things is that power which fashions their being. Next to us the grandest laws are constantly being executed. Next to us is not the workman whom we have hired, with whom we love so well to talk, but the workman whose work we are.” [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. It highlights that the fundamental force shaping existence is beyond human control, and that the most profound laws operate continuously, while the most significant labor is the work we do on ourselves. **In simple terms:** Self‑creation and universal law Key Takeaway We are our own greatest work Themes philosophy existentialism self‑development nature law Mood contemplative inspired reflective Type aphorism philosophical insight When to use this quote - personal growth - creative process - spiritual practice - leadership development - psychological therapy Key Concepts inner transformation cosmic order human agency Practical Applications - self‑help literature - mindfulness training Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing our role as the workman of our own life change our priorities? - What universal laws influence our daily decisions without our awareness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause and effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-and-effect/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [The grandest of all laws is the law of progressive development. Under it, in the wide sweep of things, men grow wiser as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-grandest-of-all-laws-is-the-law-of-progressive-development-under/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [“Marriages are buffeted by more important things, like money and sex and children and jobs and in-laws, in constantly changing combinations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-pattillo/marriages-are-buffeted-by-more-important-things-like-money-and-sex/) [Beth Pattillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-pattillo/) > [ \[American tax laws\] are constantly changing as our elected representatives seek new ways to ensure that whatever tax advice we receive is incorrect. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/american-tax-laws-are-constantly-changing-as-our-elected/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [The number of laws is constantly growing in all countries and, owing to this, what is called crime is very often not a crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/the-number-of-laws-is-constantly-growing-in-all-countries-and-owing/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [The principal, the only, thing a man makes, is his condition of fate. Though commonly he does not know it, nor put up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-principal-the-only-thing-a-man-makes-is-his-condition-of-fate/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There are many skillful apprentices, but few master workmen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-are-many-skillful-apprentices-but-few-master-workmen/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The ability to choose how you want to live, and how you want to be treated are the two things that will give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/the-ability-to-choose-how-you-want-to-live-and-how-you-want-to-be/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [There is a Power around you that knows and that understands all things. This Power works like the soil; it receives the seed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/there-is-a-power-around-you-that-knows-and-that-understands-all/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Order and system are nobler things than power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/order-and-system-are-nobler-things-than-power/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Power is just using energy in a wise way to get things done. Power has been misinterpreted to mean getting my way on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/power-is-just-using-energy-in-a-wise-way-to-get-things-done-power-has/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [Nobody says anything to me now when it comes to Japanese. They actually ask me things. I now have power!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungri/nobody-says-anything-to-me-now-when-it-comes-to-japanese-they/) [Seungri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungri/) > [In science we have to consider two things: power and circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-science-we-have-to-consider-two-things-power-and-circumstance/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Something I learned very early on in my career is that there are a lot of things that you do not have any power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/something-i-learned-very-early-on-in-my-career-is-that-there-are-a/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [“But of course names were secret things, full of power. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/but-of-course-names-were-secret-things-full-of-power-and/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Money can buy many things. Even power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-makarov/money-can-buy-many-things-even-power/) Vladimir Makarov ## 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 All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. 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The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) Browse all 2,486 All things quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nearest to all things is that power which fashions their being. Next to us the grandest laws are constantly being executed. 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