--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The boy gathers materials for a temple…" description: "\"The boy gathers materials for a temple, and then when he is thirty, concludes to build a woodshed.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_the-boy-gathers-materials-for-a-temple-a_355948.jpg" --- # The boy gathers materials for a temple, and then when he… ![“The boy gathers materials for a temple, and then when he is thirty, concludes to build a woodshed.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_the-boy-gathers-materials-for-a-temple-a_355948.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_the-boy-gathers-materials-for-a-temple-a_355948.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee8/henry-david-thoreau-20_age_the-boy-gathers-materials-for-a-temple-a_355948.jpg) > “The boy gathers materials for a temple, and then when he is thirty, concludes to build a woodshed.” [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. The quote warns against procrastination; planning without action leads to delayed fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Planning alone isn’t enough; act now. Key Takeaway Act on plans promptly. Themes procrastination planning action delayed fulfillment Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career projects - home improvement - personal goals - learning new skills Key Concepts temporal discounting self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today toward your goal? - How does delaying affect your motivation? A Different Perspective If you keep postponing, you may never start the project. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/) ## Related quotes > [The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-youth-gets-together-his-materials-to-build-a-bridge-to-the-moon/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“was you raised in a woodshed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/was-you-raised-in-a-woodshed/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When you get to know someone, you find there's something nasty in their woodshed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/when-you-get-to-know-someone-you-find-there-s-something-nasty-in/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [“you’re taken to the woodshed, the best thing you can do is wait out the whipping and shut up.” “That’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/you-re-taken-to-the-woodshed-the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-wait-out/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Well, I say it's time to take Stephen Harper to the woodshed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-layton/well-i-say-it-s-time-to-take-stephen-harper-to-the-woodshed/) [Jack Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-layton/) > [I saw something nasty in the woodshed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-gibbons/i-saw-something-nasty-in-the-woodshed/) [Stella Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-gibbons/) > [Once you decide that mediocrity is unthinkable, your only choices are excellence and quitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-murray/once-you-decide-that-mediocrity-is-unthinkable-your-only-choices-are/) [Nick Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-murray/) > [Philadelphians are every whit as mediocre as their neighbors, but they seldom encourage each other in mediocrity by giving it a more agreeable name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/philadelphians-are-every-whit-as-mediocre-as-their-neighbors-but-they/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [There has been an obvious effort to play it safe, to make 'Bonanza' a good family show that would offend no one and hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pernell-roberts/there-has-been-an-obvious-effort-to-play-it-safe-to-make-bonanza-a/) [Pernell Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pernell-roberts/) > [If you want to be average, do what others do. 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