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Henry David Thoreau Quotes - Page 66

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What is peculiar in the life of a man consists not in his obedience, but his opposition, to his instincts. In one direction or another he strives to live a supernatural life.

What is peculiar in the life of a man consists not in his obedience, but his opposition, to his instincts. In one direction or another he strives to live a supernatural life.

Henry David Thoreau
Life, Men, One Direction
Henry David Thoreau (2006). “Thoreau and the Art of Life: Precepts and Principles”, p.61, Heron Dance Press

It seems to me that the god that is commonly worshipped in civilized countries is not at all divine, though he bears a divine name, but is the overwhelming authority and respectability of mankind combined. Men reverence one another, not yet God.

Henry David Thoreau
God, Country, Men
1849 A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers,'Sunday'.

Man wanted a home, a place for warmth, or comfort, first of physical warmth, then the warmth of the affections.

Henry David Thoreau
Home, Men, Comfort
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.168, Penguin

The flowers of the apple are perhaps the most beautiful of any tree's, so copious and so delicious to both sight and scent.

Henry David Thoreau
Beautiful, Flower, Sight
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “Walking, Wild Apples”, p.45, Henry David Thoreau

Priests and physicians should never look one another in the face. They have no common ground, nor is there any to mediate betweenthem. When the one comes, the other goes. They could not come together without laughter, or a significant silence, for the one's profession is a satire on the other's, and either's success would be the other's failure.

Henry David Thoreau
Laughter, Doctors, Silence
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.197, Delphi Classics

We cannot put a noose around another man's neck without first hanging ourselves.

Henry David Thoreau
Relationship, Men, Firsts

To the sick, indeed, nature is sick, but to the well, a fountain of health.

Henry David Thoreau
Nature, Health, Sick
Henry David Thoreau (2011). “The Natural History Essays”, p.3, Gibbs Smith

There never was and is not likely soon to be a nation of philosophers, nor am I certain it is desirable that there should be.

Henry David Thoreau
Literature, Philosopher, Should
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.183, Penguin

Many old people receive pensions for no other reason, it seems to me, but as a compensation for having lived a long time ago.

Henry David Thoreau
Long, People, Age
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “The Maine Woods: The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, Volume III (of 20)”, p.74, Trajectory Inc

Such is always the pursuit of knowledge. The celestial fruits, the golden apples of the Hesperides, are ever guarded by a hundred-headed dragon which never sleeps, so that it is an Herculean labor to pluck them.

Henry David Thoreau
Knowledge, Sleep, Dragons
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Selected Essays of Henry David Thoreau”, p.216, Simon and Schuster

All questions rely on the present for their solution. Time measures nothing but itself. The word that is written may be postponed,but not that on the lip. If this is what the occasion says, let the occasion say it.

Henry David Thoreau
Time, May, Lips
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.222, Xist Publishing

The poet's body even is not fed like other men's, but he sometimes tastes the genuine nectar and ambrosia of the gods, and lives adivine life. By the healthful and invigorating thrills of inspiration his life is preserved to a serene old age.

Henry David Thoreau
Inspirational, Men, Serenity
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.243, Xist Publishing

If you look over a list of medicinal recipes in vogue in the last century, how foolish and useless they are seen to be! And yet we use equally absurd ones with faith today.

Henry David Thoreau
Use, Recipes, Today
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.2865, Delphi Classics

To be right is more honorable than to be law abiding.

Henry David Thoreau
Law, Abiding, Honorable

One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve.

Henry David Thoreau
Beautiful, Flower, Attractive Things
Henry David Thoreau (2011). “The Journal of Henry David Thoreau, 1837-1861”, p.212, New York Review of Books

Though the youth at last grows indifferent, the laws of the universe are not indifferent, but are forever on the side of the most sensitive.

Henry David Thoreau
Law, Forever, Lasts
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

Those who work much do not work hard.

Henry David Thoreau
Work, Hard Work, Hard
Henry David Thoreau (2011). “The Journal of Henry David Thoreau, 1837-1861”, p.26, New York Review of Books

To one who habitually endeavors to contemplate the true state of things, the political state can hardly be said to have any existence whatever. It is unreal, incredible, and insignificant to him, and for him to endeavor to extract the truth from such lean material is like making sugar from linen rags, when sugar-cane may be had.

Henry David Thoreau
Government, Political, Rags
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.91, Xist Publishing

If you are describing any occurrence... make two or more distinct reports at different times... We discriminate at first only a few features, and we need to reconsider our experience from many points of view and in various moods in order to perceive the whole.

Henry David Thoreau
Views, Order, Two
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.139, Penguin

How imperceptibly the first springing takes place!

Henry David Thoreau
Spring, Firsts
Henry David Thoreau (1929). “Early spring in Massachusetts and Summer”

Of what significance are the things you can forget.

Henry David Thoreau
Memories, Silly, Forget
Henry David Thoreau, Horace Elisha Scudder, Harrison Gray Otis Blake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn (1803). “The Writings of Henry David Thoreau”, p.428

I begin to see an object when I cease to understand it.

Henry David Thoreau
Nature, Vision, Awe

What the first philosopher taught the last will have to repeat.

Henry David Thoreau
Lasts, Firsts, Taught
Henry David Thoreau (1906). “Journal”

No mortal is alert enough to be present at the first dawn of spring.

Henry David Thoreau
Spring, Dawn, Firsts
Henry David Thoreau, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn (1906). “Journal, ed. by B. Torrey, 1837-1846, 1850-Nov. 3, 1861”

Poetry is nothing but healthy speech.

Henry David Thoreau
Poetry, Healthy, Speech
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.2097, Delphi Classics

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