--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should go forth on the shortest walk…" description: "\"“We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return; prepared to send back our embalmed hearts onl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/henry-david-thoreau-20_adventure_we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk_1583121.jpg" --- # We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the… ![“We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return; prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only, as relics to our desolate kingdoms. If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/henry-david-thoreau-20_adventure_we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk_1583121.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/henry-david-thoreau-20_adventure_we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk_1583121.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/henry-david-thoreau-20_adventure_we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk_1583121.jpg) > ““We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return; prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only, as relics to our desolate kingdoms. If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again; if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man; then you are ready for a walk.”” [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 passage frames a journey as a deliberate, adventurous departure, requiring preparation, freedom, and acceptance of leaving loved ones behind. **In simple terms:** A prepared, adventurous departure requires letting go. Key Takeaway Prepare, let go, and embark on purposeful journeys. Themes adventure freedom departure preparation legacy Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - military service - long‑term travel - career change - spiritual pilgrimage - starting a new life Key Concepts existentialism self-reliance mortality Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities must you settle before a major change? - How do you honor those you leave behind? A Different Perspective May glorify abandoning responsibilities for romanticized adventure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Brother and sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother-and-sister/) [Father And Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-and-mother/) [Free man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-man/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Ready to leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready-to-leave/) [Ready Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready-walk-2210772/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Shortest Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shortest-walk-4149979/) [Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk/) [Walk Perchance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-perchance-4149977/) [Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking/) ## Related quotes > [Half the walk is but retracing our steps. We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/half-the-walk-is-but-retracing-our-steps-we-should-go-forth-on-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return - sending back our embalmed hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk-perchance-in-the-spirit-of-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“We would also have to say goodbye to the joy of watching this next generation soak up the massive quantities of love their grandmother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-schwalbe/we-would-also-have-to-say-goodbye-to-the-joy-of-watching-this-next-2/) [Will Schwalbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-schwalbe/) > [“We do not acknowledge enough, I think, the clan and tribe of our friends, who are not assigned to us by blood, or given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-doyle/we-do-not-acknowledge-enough-i-think-the-clan-and-tribe-of-our/) [Brian Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-doyle/) > [It was Joseph Smith who taught me how to prize the endearing relationships of father and mother, husband and wife; of brother and sister,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parley-p-pratt/it-was-joseph-smith-who-taught-me-how-to-prize-the-endearing/) [Parley P. Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parley-p-pratt/) > [I am going to walk away when I'm ready to walk away. Not because of a win or a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/i-am-going-to-walk-away-when-i-m-ready-to-walk-away-not-because-of-a/) [Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/) > [As you get ready to walk out under the bright lights of the improvisational stage of the rest of your life be bold. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-costolo/as-you-get-ready-to-walk-out-under-the-bright-lights-of-the/) [Dick Costolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-costolo/) > [But this is what I know about people getting ready to walk of the edge of their own lives: they want someone to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tana-french/but-this-is-what-i-know-about-people-getting-ready-to-walk-of-the/) [Tana French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tana-french/) > [If you don't get substantially what you want, be ready to walk. And don't look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/if-you-don-t-get-substantially-what-you-want-be-ready-to-walk-and-don/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [You never know what doors are going to open up and why they are going to open up. You've got to be ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-holt/you-never-know-what-doors-are-going-to-open-up-and-why-they-are-going/) [Lester Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-holt/) > [If you see how carefully I prepare for any kind of walk, legal or illegal, small or big, you will see that, actually, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-you-see-how-carefully-i-prepare-for-any-kind-of-walk-legal-or/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [There is a time to separate from our mother. But unless we are ready to separate-unless we are ready to leave her and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-viorst/there-is-a-time-to-separate-from-our-mother-but-unless-we-are-ready/) [Judith Viorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-viorst/) > [Women fall in love when they get to know you. Men are just the opposite. When they finally know you they're ready to leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/women-fall-in-love-when-they-get-to-know-you-men-are-just-the/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [“Tequila, anyone?” he asked our group, but his eyes were on me. “Hell, yeah, K, break it out,” Blake said. I tried to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/tequila-anyone-he-asked-our-group-but-his-eyes-were-on-me-hell-yeah-k/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [I hope we're all ready to leave the phenomenal world, and enter into the sublime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/i-hope-we-re-all-ready-to-leave-the-phenomenal-world-and-enter-into/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) ## 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 Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) [Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) [Kevin McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcleod/) > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return; prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only, as relics to our desolate kingdoms. If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them again; if you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free man; then you are ready for a walk.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry David Thoreau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk-perchance-in-the-spirit-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adventure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk-perchance-in-the-spirit-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/henry-david-thoreau-20_adventure_we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk_1583121.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/henry-david-thoreau-20_adventure_we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk_1583121.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/735/henry-david-thoreau-20_adventure_we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk_1583121.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return…” — 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": "“We should go forth on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk-perchance-in-the-spirit-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/we-should-go-forth-on-the-shortest-walk-perchance-in-the-spirit-of/#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 } } ] } ```