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Henry David Thoreau Quotes - Page 23

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The movements of the eyes express the perpetual and unconscious courtesy of the parties.

The movements of the eyes express the perpetual and unconscious courtesy of the parties.

Henry David Thoreau
Party, Eye, Movement
Henry David Thoreau (2004). “Walden and Other Writings”, p.57, Bantam Classics

None can lead this life who are not almost amphibious.

Henry David Thoreau
Water, This Life
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.68, Penguin

No man with a genius for legislation has appeared in America. They are rare in the history of the world. There are orators, politicians, and eloquent men, by the thousand; but the speaker has not yet opened his mouth to speak who is capable of settling the much-vexed questions of the day. We love eloquence for its own sake, and not for any truth which it may utter, or any heroism it may inspire. Our legislators have not yet learned the comparative value of free trade and of freedom, of union, and of rectitude, to a nation.

Henry David Thoreau
Truth, Men, America
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.301, Simon and Schuster

I wished only to be set down in Canada, and take one honest walk there as I might in Concord woods of an afternoon.

Henry David Thoreau
Afternoon, Might, Woods
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Yankee in Canada”, p.12, Graphic Arts Books

For one that comes with a pencil to sketch or sing, a thousand come with an axe or rifle. What a coarse and imperfect use Indiansand hunters make of nature! No wonder that their race is so soon exterminated.

Henry David Thoreau
Nature, Hunting, Race
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “The Maine Woods: The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, Volume III (of 20)”, p.70, Trajectory Inc

Generally speaking, the political news, whether domestic or foreign, might be written today for the next ten years with sufficientaccuracy. Most revolutions in society have not power to interest, still less alarm us; but tell me that our rivers are drying up, or the genus pine dying out in the country, and I might attend.

Henry David Thoreau
Country, Years, Rivers
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.532, Simon and Schuster

I saw that the State was half-witted, that it was timid as a lone woman with her silver spoons, and that it did not know its friends from its foes, and I lost all my remaining respect for it, and pitied it.

Henry David Thoreau
Spoons, Half, Saws
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.83, Penguin

We have not so good a right to hate any as our Friend.

Henry David Thoreau
Hate
Henry David Thoreau (2001). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.182, Courier Corporation

I sailed on the North River last night with my flute, and my music was a tinkling stream which meandered with the river, and fell from note to note as a brook from rock to rock. I did not hear the strains after they had issued from the flute, but before they were breathed into it, for the original strain precedes the sound by as much as the echo follows after, and the rest is the perquisite of the rocks and trees and beasts. Unpremeditated music is the true gauge which measures the current of our thoughts, the very undertow of our life's stream.

Henry David Thoreau
Music, Night, Echoes
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.2088, Delphi Classics

Have you not budged an inch, then? Such is the daily news. Its facts appear to float in the atmosphere.... We should wash ourselves clean of such news. Of what consequence, though our planet explode, if there is no character involved in the explosion? In health we have not the least curiosity about such events. We do not live for idle amusement. I would not run round a corner to see the world blow up.

Henry David Thoreau
Running, Character, Blow

I do not hesitate to say, that those who call themselves Abolitionists should at once effectually withdraw their support, both inperson and property, from the government of Massachusetts, and not wait until they constitute a majority of one, before they suffer the right to prevail through them. I think that it is enough if they have God on their side, without waiting for that other one. Moreover, any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one already.

Henry David Thoreau
Men, Thinking, Support
Civil Disobedience (1849) See Coolidge 2; Douglass 7; Andrew Jackson 7; John Knox 1; Wendell Phillips 3

We should treat our minds, that is, ourselves, as innocent and ingenuous children, whose guardians we are, and be careful what objects and what subjects we thrust on their attention.

Henry David Thoreau
Children, Thinking, Thoughtful
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.419, Simon and Schuster

Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it.

Henry David Thoreau
Music, Men, Piano
Henry David Thoreau, Odell Shepard (1961). “The Heart of Thoreau's Journals”, p.97, Courier Corporation

We loiter in winter while it is already spring.

Henry David Thoreau
Spring, Winter, Gentle Rain
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.324, Penguin

A true Friendship is as wise as it is tender. The parties to it yield implicitly to the guidance of their love, and know no otherlaw nor kindness.

Henry David Thoreau
Friendship, Wise, True Friend
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.114, Penguin

The tree of Knowledge is a Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.

Henry David Thoreau
Evil, Tree, Good And Evil
Henry David Thoreau (1862). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. By Henry D. Thoreau”, p.381

I saw a delicate flower had grown up two feet high between the horses' feet and the wheel-track. Which Dakin's and Maynard's wagons had Passed over many a time. An inch more to the right or left had sealed its fate, Or an inch higher. Yet it lived and flourished, As much as if it had a thousand acres Of untrodden space around it, and never Knew the danger it incurred. It did not borrow trouble, nor invite an Evil fate by apprehending it.

Henry David Thoreau
Life, Horse, Flower
"The Heart of Thoreau's Journals".

He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise.

Henry David Thoreau
Food, Greed, Cooking
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.133, Graphic Arts Books

For an impenetrable shield, stand inside yourself

Henry David Thoreau
Strength, Shields
Henry David Thoreau, Odell Shepard (1961). “The Heart of Thoreau's Journals”, p.15, Courier Corporation

I learned from my two years' experience that it would cost incredibly little trouble to obtain one's necessary food; that a man may use as simple a diet as the animals, and yet retain health and strength.

Henry David Thoreau
Simple, Men, Animal

The Indian navigator naturally distinguishes by a name those parts of a stream where he has encountered quick water and forks, andagain, the lakes and smooth water where he can rest his weary arms, since those are the most interesting and more arable parts to him.

Henry David Thoreau
Native American, Names, Lakes
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.680, Delphi Classics

I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings.

Henry David Thoreau
Thinking, Tree, Firsts
Henry David Thoreau, Jeffrey S. Cramer (2007). “I to Myself: An Annotated Selection from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau”, p.439, Yale University Press

In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations and my obligations to society.

Henry David Thoreau
Good Morning, Society, Afternoon
Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walking: Top Essays”, p.2, 谷月社

If you would be chaste, you must be temperate.

Henry David Thoreau
Would Be, Temperance, Chastity
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.274, Penguin

The fault finder will find faults even in paradise and thereby miss the joys that recognition of the positives bring.

Henry David Thoreau
Gratitude, Joy, Missing

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