--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We say justly that the weak person is…" description: "\"We say justly that the weak person is flat, for, like all flat substances, he does not stand in the direction of his strength, that is, on his edge, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/henry-david-thoreau-20_brave_we-say-justly-that-the-weak-person-is-fl_2496513.jpg" --- # We say justly that the weak person is flat, for, like all… ![“We say justly that the weak person is flat, for, like all flat substances, he does not stand in the direction of his strength, that is, on his edge, but affords a convenient surface to put upon. He slides all the way through life… But the brave man is a perfect sphere, which cannot fall on its…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/henry-david-thoreau-20_brave_we-say-justly-that-the-weak-person-is-fl_2496513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/henry-david-thoreau-20_brave_we-say-justly-that-the-weak-person-is-fl_2496513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa2/henry-david-thoreau-20_brave_we-say-justly-that-the-weak-person-is-fl_2496513.jpg) > “We say justly that the weak person is flat, for, like all flat substances, he does not stand in the direction of his strength, that is, on his edge, but affords a convenient surface to put upon. He slides all the way through life… But the brave man is a perfect sphere, which cannot fall on its flat side and is equally strong every way.” [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. Strength lies in versatility; a person who can adapt in any direction is resilient, unlike one who only offers a single, limited utility. **In simple terms:** Adaptability equals strength. Key Takeaway Cultivate flexibility. Themes resilience adaptability strength Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - team dynamics - crisis management Key Concepts philosophy metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you develop flexibility in your skill set? - What situations reveal your strongest side? A Different Perspective A rigid approach can still succeed in stable environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Brave man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave-man/) [Convenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convenient/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Edges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edges/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Flats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flats/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Person Flat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-flat-1017843/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Slides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slides/) [Spheres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spheres/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Substance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substance/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) [Weak Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-person/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [The brave man braves nothing, nor knows he of his bravery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-brave-man-braves-nothing-nor-knows-he-of-his-bravery/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Nothing can shock a brave man but dullness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/nothing-can-shock-a-brave-man-but-dullness/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Nothing can rightly compel a simple and brave man to a vulgar sadness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/nothing-can-rightly-compel-a-simple-and-brave-man-to-a-vulgar-sadness/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Where there is a brave man, in the thickest of the fight, there is the post of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/where-there-is-a-brave-man-in-the-thickest-of-the-fight-there-is-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The coward wants resolution, which the brave man can do without. He recognizes no faith above a creed, thinking this straw by which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-coward-wants-resolution-which-the-brave-man-can-do-without-he/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We have need to be as sturdy pioneers still as Miles Standish, or Church, or Lovewell. We are to follow on another trail, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-have-need-to-be-as-sturdy-pioneers-still-as-miles-standish-or/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I would remind my countrymen that they are to be men first, and Americans only at a late and convenient hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-would-remind-my-countrymen-that-they-are-to-be-men-first-and-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The cheapest way to travel, and the way to travel the farthest in the shortest distance, is to go afoot, carrying a dipper, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-cheapest-way-to-travel-and-the-way-to-travel-the-farthest-in-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It is possible to invent a house still more convenient and luxurious than we have...but shall we always study to obtain more of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-possible-to-invent-a-house-still-more-convenient-and-luxurious/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am a citizen of the world first, and of this country at a later and more convenient hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-a-citizen-of-the-world-first-and-of-this-country-at-a-later-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I would remind my countrymen, that they are to be men first, and Americans only at a late and convenient hour. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-would-remind-my-countrymen-that-they-are-to-be-men-first-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In eternity there is indeed something true and sublime. But all these times and places and occasions are now and here. God himself culminates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-eternity-there-is-indeed-something-true-and-sublime-but-all-these/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The squeaking of the pump sounds as necessary as the music of the spheres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-squeaking-of-the-pump-sounds-as-necessary-as-the-music-of-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Not secondary to the sun, she gives us his blaze again, Void of its flame, and sheds a softer day... In Heaven queen she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/not-secondary-to-the-sun-she-gives-us-his-blaze-again-void-of-its/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A thrumming of piano-strings beyond the gardens and through the elms. At length the melody steals into my being. I know not when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-thrumming-of-piano-strings-beyond-the-gardens-and-through-the-elms/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## 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 Brave quotes > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [If You Love Someone, Be Brave Enough To Tell Them., Otherwise Be Brave Enough To Watch Them To Be Loved By Someone Else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/if-you-love-someone-be-brave-enough-to-tell-them-otherwise-be-brave/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It's always brave to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-yifei/it-s-always-brave-to-be-yourself/) [Liu Yifei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-yifei/) > [“Victory is for the fucking brave, not the timid and excuse-riddled weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zakk-wylde/victory-is-for-the-fucking-brave-not-the-timid-and-excuse-riddled-weak/) [Zakk Wylde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zakk-wylde/) > [I'm very proud of 'Every Girl's a Super Girl.' I want all girls to know that no matter what size, color, or shape, whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/i-m-very-proud-of-every-girl-s-a-super-girl-i-want-all-girls-to-know/) [JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/) > [And I read the moral--A brave endeavour To do thy duty, whate'er its worth, Is better than life with love forever, And love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jeffrey-roche/and-i-read-the-moral-a-brave-endeavour-to-do-thy-duty-whate-er-its/) [James Jeffrey Roche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jeffrey-roche/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [You know what really made me sick? I was in Washington, D.C. at another time reading in a paper where the U.S. gives Byron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/you-know-what-really-made-me-sick-i-was-in-washington-d-c-at-another/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [To be able to live and train in Iraq under these circumstances you need to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-able-to-live-and-train-in-iraq-under-these-circumstances-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's a fallacy with stand up comedy, which is, people come up to comedians, and they go, 'You say what I think but I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/there-s-a-fallacy-with-stand-up-comedy-which-is-people-come-up-to/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [Fortune helps the brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence/fortune-helps-the-brave/) [Terence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence/) > [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [And is it selfish of me to crave victory, or is it brave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-is-it-selfish-of-me-to-crave-victory-or-is-it-brave/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [THE British are brave people. They can face anything, except reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/the-british-are-brave-people-they-can-face-anything-except-reality/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) [Browse all 3,314 Brave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We say justly that the weak person is flat, for, like all flat substances, he does not stand in the direction of his strength, that is, on his edge, but affords a convenient surface to put upon. 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