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Henry David Thoreau Quotes - Page 25

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It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being.

It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being.

Henry David Thoreau
Dog, Cat, Men
Henry David Thoreau (1993). “A Year in Thoreau's Journal: 1851”, p.49, Penguin

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.

Henry David Thoreau
Love, Goodbye, Nature
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.1631, Delphi Classics

The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this?

Henry David Thoreau
Friendship, Happiness, Real Friends
Henry David Thoreau (2006). “Thoreau and the Art of Life: Precepts and Principles”, p.9, Heron Dance Press

I have found all things thus far, persons and inanimate matter, elements and seasons, strangely adapted to my resources.

Henry David Thoreau
Optimism, Elements, Matter
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.122, Penguin

Nothing can rightly compel a simple and brave man to a vulgar sadness.

Henry David Thoreau
Sadness, Men, Simple
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.84, Graphic Arts Books

Nature is a greater and more perfect art, the art of God; though, referred to herself, she is genius; and there is a similarity between her operations and man's art even in the details and trifles. When the overhanging pine drops into the water, by the sun and water, and the wind rubbing it against the shore, its boughs are worn into fantastic shapes, and white and smooth, as if turned in a lathe. Man's art has wisely imitated those forms into which all matter is most inclined to run, as foliage and fruit.

Henry David Thoreau
Running, Art, Nature
Henry David Thoreau (2017). “HENRY DAVID THOREAU – The Man, The Philosopher & The Trailblazer (Illustrated): Biographies, Memoirs, Autobiographical Books & Personal Letters (Including Walden, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, The Maine Woods, Cape Cod, A Yankee in Canada…)”, p.258, e-artnow

There are two classes of authors: the one write the history of their times, the other their biography.

Henry David Thoreau
Writing, Class, Two
Henry David Thoreau, Jeffrey S. Cramer (2007). “I to Myself: An Annotated Selection from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau”, p.27, Yale University Press

The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.

Henry David Thoreau
Life Changing, Thinking, Assuming
Civil Disobedience (1849)

I know that some will have hard thoughts of me, when they hear their Christ named beside my Buddha, yet I am sure that I am willing they should love their Christ more than my Buddha, for the love is the main thing, and I like him too.

Henry David Thoreau
Jesus, Love Is, Religion
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.47, Xist Publishing

I am convinced that if all men were to live as simply as I then did, thieving and robbery would be unknown. These take place only in communities where some have got more than is sufficient while others have not enough.

Henry David Thoreau
Men, Community, Would Be
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.104, Simon and Schuster

The greater number of men are merely corporals.

Henry David Thoreau
Men, Numbers, Conformity
Henry David Thoreau (1866). “Cape Cod”, p.239

We can never safely exceed the actual facts in our narratives. Of pure invention, such as some suppose, there is no instance. To write a true work of fiction even is only to take leisure and liberty to describe some things more exactly as they are.

Henry David Thoreau
Writing, Liberty, Facts
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “The Illustrated "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers"”, p.325, Princeton University Press

A goal is a dream taken seriously.

Henry David Thoreau
Dream, Taken, Goal

It is not worth the while to let our imperfections disturb us always. The conscience really does not, and ought not to monopolizethe whole of our lives, any more than the heart or the head. It is as liable to disease as any other part.

Henry David Thoreau
Heart, Imperfection, Doe
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.96, Penguin

The man whose horse trots a mile in a minute does not carry the most important messages.

Henry David Thoreau
Horse, Men, Important
Henry David Thoreau (1995). “Walden, Or, Life in the Woods”, p.34, Courier Corporation

There is no rule more invariable than that we are paid for our suspicions by finding what we suspect.

Henry David Thoreau
Finding The One, Doubt, Literature
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.116, Penguin

Any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one already.

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

The way by which you may get money almost without exception leads downward.

Henry David Thoreau
Money, May, Way
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.216, Graphic Arts Books

Sincerity is a great but rare virtue, and we pardon to it much complaining, and the betrayal of many weaknesses.

Henry David Thoreau
Betrayal, Weakness, Complaining
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.369, Penguin

The purity men love is like the mists which envelope the earth, and not like the azure ether beyond.

Henry David Thoreau
Love, Men, Earth
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.512, Delphi Classics

We hate the kindness which we understand.

Henry David Thoreau
Kindness, Hate
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.49, Jazzybee Verlag

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

Henry David Thoreau
Family, Character, Men
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.2077, Delphi Classics

I only desire sincere relations with the worthiest of my acquaintance, that they may give me an opportunity once in a year to speak the truth.

Henry David Thoreau
Truth, Opportunity, Years
Henry David Thoreau, Jeffrey S. Cramer (2007). “I to Myself: An Annotated Selection from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau”, p.163, Yale University Press

Even the death of Friends will inspire us as much as their lives. They will leave consolation to the mourners, as the rich leave money to defray the expenses of their funerals, and their memories will be incrusted over with sublime and pleasing thoughts, as monuments of other men are overgrown with moss; for our Friends have no place in the graveyard.

Henry David Thoreau
Friendship, Memories, Men
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.203, Xist Publishing

Perchance, coming generations will not abide the dissolution of the globe, but, availing themselves of future inventions in aerial locomotion, and the navigation of space, the entire race may migrate from the earth, to settle some vacant and more western planet.... It took but little art, a simple application of natural laws, a canoe, a paddle, and a sail of matting, to people the isles of the Pacific, and a little more will people the shining isles of space. Do we not see in the firmament the lights carried along the shore by night, as Columbus did? Let us not despair or mutiny.

Henry David Thoreau
Art, Moon, Simple
"Paradise (to Be) Regained" (1843)

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