--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there is innocence on Earth again, I…" description: "\"If there is innocence on Earth again, I tend to imagine it in more [Henry David]Thoreau sort of terms.\" — Quentin S. Crisp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/quentin-s-crisp-4149_david-thoreau_if-there-is-innocence-on-earth-again-i-t_3176528.jpg" --- # If there is innocence on Earth again, I tend to imagine it… ![“If there is innocence on Earth again, I tend to imagine it in more [Henry David]Thoreau sort of terms.” quote by Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/quentin-s-crisp-4149_david-thoreau_if-there-is-innocence-on-earth-again-i-t_3176528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/quentin-s-crisp-4149_david-thoreau_if-there-is-innocence-on-earth-again-i-t_3176528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/749/quentin-s-crisp-4149_david-thoreau_if-there-is-innocence-on-earth-again-i-t_3176528.jpg) > “If there is innocence on Earth again, I tend to imagine it in more \[Henry David\]Thoreau sort of terms.” [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker imagines a return to pure, simple living reminiscent of Thoreau's ideals. **In simple terms:** Imagining a return to simple, pure living. Key Takeaway Seek simplicity and authenticity. Themes nature innocence philosophy Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - creative writing - environmental activism Key Concepts transcendentalism environmentalism Questions to Reflect On - How can we embody Thoreau's simplicity today? - What does innocence mean in modern society? A Different Perspective Idealizing the past may ignore present complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) ## Related quotes > [I like the story about Henry David Thoreau, who, when he was on his death bed, his family sent for a minister. The minister…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/i-like-the-story-about-henry-david-thoreau-who-when-he-was-on-his/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [“Whenever I read anything by Henry David Thoreau I honestly feel as though he’s with me. No. More like I am with him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-trandahl/whenever-i-read-anything-by-henry-david-thoreau-i-honestly-feel-as/) [Nicholas Trandahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-trandahl/) > [“Even Henry David Thoreau, not known for kvetching, wrote in The Maine Woods that he was “seriously molested” by bugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/even-henry-david-thoreau-not-known-for-kvetching-wrote-in-the-maine/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify! Simplify! Henry David Thoreau”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-catherine-rozek/our-life-is-frittered-away-by-detail-simplify-simplify-henry-david/) Jane Catherine Rozek > [“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. —Henry David Thoreau”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/rather-than-love-than-money-than-fame-give-me-truth-henry-david/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“The American Anti-Slavery Society, on the other hand, said the war was “waged solely for the detestable and horrible purpose of extending and perpetuating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-american-anti-slavery-society-on-the-other-hand-said-the-war-was/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. HENRY DAVID THOREAU”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/i-know-of-no-more-encouraging-fact-than-the-unquestionable-ability-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/if-you-have-built-castles-in-the-air-your-work-need-not-be-lost-that-2/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [“My greatest skill has been to want little. —HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALDEN A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/my-greatest-skill-has-been-to-want-little-henry-david-thoreau-walden-a/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [“There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/there-are-thousands-who-are-in-opinion-opposed-to-slavery-and-to-war/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/what-lies-before-us-and-what-lies-behind-us-are-small-matters/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” ~ Henry David Thoreau”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-leopold/many-men-go-fishing-all-of-their-lives-without-knowing-that-it-is-not/) Scott Leopold > [“It's hard to explain, but it's related to me know that for every moment of beauty this place gives me, I probably miss a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/it-s-hard-to-explain-but-it-s-related-to-me-know-that-for-every/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [Henry David Thoreau, who never earned much of a living or sustained a relationship with any woman that wasn't brotherly -- who lived mostly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/henry-david-thoreau-who-never-earned-much-of-a-living-or-sustained-a/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) > [The language of friendship is not words but meanings. --Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-language-of-friendship-is-not-words-but-meanings-henry-david/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Quentin S. Crisp > [I have a sense of them being Easter religions, for some reason. Christianity, of course, is a mystery religion, too, and I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-have-a-sense-of-them-being-easter-religions-for-some-reason/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ If we do want to do that \[ colonise space to survive, \], then vacuous materialism is not going to be enough for us. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/if-we-do-want-to-do-that-colonise-space-to-survive-then-vacuous/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I seemed to recall some words from an old Zen master, something like, "My Zen cuts down mountains." My rejection of Buddhism was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-seemed-to-recall-some-words-from-an-old-zen-master-something-like/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ This is the strange thing about existing in time. As \[Philip\] Larkin puts it, "truly, though our element is time, we are not used… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-is-the-strange-thing-about-existing-in-time-as-philip-larkin/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I've never been baptised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-ve-never-been-baptised/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [It would be hard to say that exactly, but antinatalism is a reality in my life, not just an interesting idea. I can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/it-would-be-hard-to-say-that-exactly-but-antinatalism-is-a-reality-in/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ \[william\] Burroughs, incidentally, took up the slogan that we are "Here to go", which contradicts the tendency in Eastern mysticism to advocate staying where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/william-burroughs-incidentally-took-up-the-slogan-that-we-are-here-to/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [As children in the seventies we were told about nebulous 'strangers'. By definition, we didn't know who these strangers were, and we didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/as-children-in-the-seventies-we-were-told-about-nebulous-strangers-by/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [This is part of the fundamental character of Buddhism that I find problematic - that it is not interested in anything. Hence the 'Fascination'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-is-part-of-the-fundamental-character-of-buddhism-that-i-find/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ I also remember a line from a song by Smog \[Bill Callahan\], which seems to describe the experience of a town-dweller moving to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-also-remember-a-line-from-a-song-by-smog-bill-callahan-which-seems/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [This strong sense of who I am that I've always had, since I was very young, is what makes me write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/this-strong-sense-of-who-i-am-that-i-ve-always-had-since-i-was-very/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I like the concept of an anti-muse, though I'm not quite sure what that is. If there is such a thing in my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-like-the-concept-of-an-anti-muse-though-i-m-not-quite-sure-what/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ I really think \[William\] Burroughs was onto something here, when he said, "Dreams are a biologic necessity and your lifeline into space." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-really-think-william-burroughs-was-onto-something-here-when-he-said/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [ \[My muse\] is, in fact, a woman of the world, and precisely because of this, hopes that a diversity of cultures will endure, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/my-muse-is-in-fact-a-woman-of-the-world-and-precisely-because-of-this/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) > [I do have a muse. I am not sure how to describe her. She can be very elusive. She was born in England but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-s-crisp/i-do-have-a-muse-i-am-not-sure-how-to-describe-her-she-can-be-very/) [Quentin S. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) [Explore all 115 Quentin S. Crisp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-s-crisp/) ## More David thoreau quotes > [I like the story about Henry David Thoreau, who, when he was on his death bed, his family sent for a minister. The minister…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/i-like-the-story-about-henry-david-thoreau-who-when-he-was-on-his/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [Henry David Thoreau, who never earned much of a living or sustained a relationship with any woman that wasn't brotherly -- who lived mostly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hoagland/henry-david-thoreau-who-never-earned-much-of-a-living-or-sustained-a/) [Edward Hoagland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hoagland/) > [If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-a-man-does-not-keep-pace-with-his-companions-perhaps-it-is-because/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It's hard to explain, but it's related to me know that for every moment of beauty this place gives me, I probably miss a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/it-s-hard-to-explain-but-it-s-related-to-me-know-that-for-every/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” ~ Henry David Thoreau”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-leopold/many-men-go-fishing-all-of-their-lives-without-knowing-that-it-is-not/) Scott Leopold > [“What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/what-lies-before-us-and-what-lies-behind-us-are-small-matters/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothee-soelle/there-are-thousands-who-are-in-opinion-opposed-to-slavery-and-to-war/) [Dorothee Soelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothee-soelle/) > [“My greatest skill has been to want little. —HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALDEN A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-potts/my-greatest-skill-has-been-to-want-little-henry-david-thoreau-walden-a/) [Rolf Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-potts/) > [“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/if-you-have-built-castles-in-the-air-your-work-need-not-be-lost-that-2/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [What I treasure most at any moment is intimacy, surprise, a sense of mystery, wit, depth and love. A handful of cherished friends offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/what-i-treasure-most-at-any-moment-is-intimacy-surprise-a-sense-of/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. HENRY DAVID THOREAU”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/i-know-of-no-more-encouraging-fact-than-the-unquestionable-ability-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“The American Anti-Slavery Society, on the other hand, said the war was “waged solely for the detestable and horrible purpose of extending and perpetuating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/the-american-anti-slavery-society-on-the-other-hand-said-the-war-was/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. —Henry David Thoreau”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/rather-than-love-than-money-than-fame-give-me-truth-henry-david/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify! Simplify! Henry David Thoreau”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-catherine-rozek/our-life-is-frittered-away-by-detail-simplify-simplify-henry-david/) Jane Catherine Rozek > [Parents often give middle names just so that later, when they're yelling at the kid, they can drag it out. Henry David Thoreau, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/parents-often-give-middle-names-just-so-that-later-when-they-re/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) Browse all 47 David thoreau quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If there is innocence on Earth again, I tend to imagine it in more [Henry David]Thoreau sort of terms.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Quentin S. 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