Quotes by Thoreau, Henry David

"Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout."

Thoreau, Henry David on speech   

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"The stars are the apexes of what triangles!"

Thoreau, Henry David on stardom   

"There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. I please myself with imagining a State at last which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose if a few went to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellow-men. A State which bore this kind of fruit, and suffered it to drop off as fast as it ripened, would prepare the way for a still more perfect and glorious State, which also I have imagined, but not yet anywhere seen."

Thoreau, Henry David on state   

"You must get your living by loving, or at least half your life is a failure."

Thoreau, Henry David on success   

"We were born to succeed, not to fail."

Thoreau, Henry David on success   

"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success."

Thoreau, Henry David on success
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"He is the best sailor who can steer within fewest points of the wind, and exact a motive power out of the greatest obstacles."

Thoreau, Henry David on ability   

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor."

Thoreau, Henry David on ability
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"If I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior."

Thoreau, Henry David on behavior   

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"Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere."

Thoreau, Henry David on behavior   

"We feel at first as if some opportunities of kindness and sympathy were lost, but learn afterward that any pure grief is ample recompense for all. That is, if we are faithful; -- for a spent grief is but sympathy with the soul that disposes events, and is as natural as the resin of Arabian trees. -- Only nature has a right to grieve perpetually, for she only is innocent. Soon the ice will melt, and the blackbirds sing along the river which he frequented, as pleasantly as ever. The same everlasting serenity will appear in this face of God, and we will not be sorrowful, if he is not."

Thoreau, Henry David on bereavement   

"On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend's life also, in our own, to the world."

Thoreau, Henry David on bereavement   

"Every man is the builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones."

Thoreau, Henry David on body   

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"For what are the classics but the noblest thoughts of man? They are the only oracles which are not decayed, and there are such answers to the most modern inquiry in them as Delphi and Dodona never gave. We might as well omit to study Nature because she is old."

Thoreau, Henry David on books - classics   

"To read well, that is, to read true books in a true spirit, is a noble exercise, and one that will task the reader more than any other exercise which the customs of the day esteem. It requires a training such as the athletes underwent, the steady intention almost of the whole life to this object."

Thoreau, Henry David on books - reading   

"Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all."

Thoreau, Henry David on books - reading
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"Books must be read as deliberately and reservedly as they were written."

Thoreau, Henry David on books - reading
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"Books, not which afford us a cowering enjoyment, but in which each thought is of unusual daring; such as an idle man cannot read, and a timid one would not be entertained by, which even make us dangerous to existing institution --such call I good books."

Thoreau, Henry David on books - reading   

"How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book! The book exists for us, perchance, that will explain our miracles and reveal new ones. The at present unutterable things we may find somewhere uttered."

Thoreau, Henry David on books - reading   

"If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself."

Thoreau, Henry David on bragging   

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"It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?"

Thoreau, Henry David on busyness
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"Beware of all enterprises that require a new set of clothes."

Thoreau, Henry David on caution   

"Things do not change, we do."

Thoreau, Henry David on change
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"We know but a few men, a great many coats and breeches."

Thoreau, Henry David on character   

"Pity the man who has a character to support --it is worse than a large family -- he is silent poor indeed."

Thoreau, Henry David on character   

"The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the characters of individuals."

Thoreau, Henry David on character   

"We falsely attribute to men a determined character -- putting together all their yesterdays -- and averaging them -- we presume we know them. Pity the man who has character to support -- it is worse than a large family -- he is the silent poor indeed."

Thoreau, Henry David on character   

"If you give money, spend yourself with it."

Thoreau, Henry David on charity   

"The generative energy, which, when we are loose, dissipates and makes us unclean, when we are continent invigorates and inspires us. Chastity is the flowering of man; and what are called Genius, Heroism, Holiness, and the like, are but various fruits which succeed it."

Thoreau, Henry David on chastity   

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"The sun is but a morning star."

Thoreau, Henry David on sun   

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"We are paid for our suspicions by finding what we suspected."

Thoreau, Henry David on suspicion   

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"If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible."

Thoreau, Henry David on taxes and taxation   

"Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end."

Thoreau, Henry David on technology   

"Glances of true beauty can be seen in the faces of those who live in true meekness."

Thoreau, Henry David on tenderness   

"A man thinks as well through his legs and arms as this brain."

Thoreau, Henry David on thoughts and thinking   

"Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be."

Thoreau, Henry David on thoughts and thinking   

"To him whose elastic and vigorous thought keeps pace with the sun, the day is a perpetual morning."

Thoreau, Henry David on thoughts and thinking   

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"Associate reverently, as much as you can, with your loftiest thoughts."

Thoreau, Henry David on thoughts and thinking
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"How can they expect a harvest of thought who have not had the seed time of character."

Thoreau, Henry David on thoughts and thinking   

"Each thought that is welcomed and recorded is a nest egg by the side of which more will be laid."

Thoreau, Henry David on thoughts and thinking