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Henry David Thoreau Quotes - Page 87

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The highest law gives a thing to him who can use it.

The highest law gives a thing to him who can use it.

Henry David Thoreau
Law, Giving, Use
Henry David Thoreau (2006). “Thoreau and the Art of Life: Precepts and Principles”, p.24, Heron Dance Press

Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous. If men would steadily observe realities only, and not allow themselves to be deluded, life ... would be like a fairy tale and the Arabian Nights' Entertainments.

Henry David Thoreau
Night, Reality, Men
Henry David Thoreau (2009). “Walden”, p.62, Cosimo, Inc.

I make my own time. I make my own terms. I cannot see how God or Nature can ever get the start of me.

Henry David Thoreau
God, Nature, Freedom
Henry David Thoreau (1960). “H. D. Thoreau, a Writer's Journal”, p.8, Courier Corporation

If you would get exercise, go in search of the springs of life.

Henry David Thoreau
Spring, Exercise, Sauntering
Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walking: Top Essays”, p.2, 谷月社

I do not believe in lawyers, in that mode of attacking or defending a man, because you descend to meet the judge on his own ground, and, in cases of the highest importance, it is of no consequence whether a man breaks a human law or not. Let lawyers decide trivial cases.

Henry David Thoreau
Believe, Men, Law
Henry David Thoreau (2002). “The Essays of Henry D. Thoreau: Selected and Edited by Lewis Hyde”, p.379, North Point Press

Man flows at once to God when the channel of purity is open.

Henry David Thoreau
Men, Flow, Purity
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.274, Penguin

There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.

Henry David Thoreau
Men, Littles, Action
Henry David Thoreau (1942). “Civil Disobedience”, p.6, Hayes Barton Press

When we walk, we naturally go to the fields and woods: what would become of us, if we walked only in a garden or a mall? Even some sects of philosophers have felt the necessity of importing the woods to themselves, since they did not go to the woods. They planted groves and walks of Plantanes, where they took subdiales ambulationes in porticos open to the air. Of course, it is of no use to direct our steps to the woods, if they do not carry us thither.

Henry David Thoreau
Garden, Air, Use
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.395, Penguin

Two or three hours' walking will carry me to as strange a country as I expect ever to see. A single farmhouse which I had not seen before is sometimes as good as the dominions of the King of Dahomey.

Henry David Thoreau
Country, Kings, Two
Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walking: Top Essays”, p.3, 谷月社

Of what use the friendliest disposition even, if there are no hours given to Friendship, if it is forever postponed to unimportant duties and relations? Friendship first, Friendship last.

Henry David Thoreau
Forever, Use, Lasts
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.110, Penguin

Mythology is the crop which the Old World bore before its soil was exhausted.

Henry David Thoreau
World, Soil, Exhausted
Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walking: Top Essays”, p.14, 谷月社

Sphere Music - Some sounds seem to reverberate along the plain, and then settle to earth again like dust; such are Noise, Discord, Jargon. But such only as spring heavenward, and I may catch from steeples and hilltops in their upward course, which are the more refined parts of the former, are the true sphere music - pure, unmixed music - in which no wail mingles.

Henry David Thoreau
Spring, Dust, Sound
Henry David Thoreau, Odell Shepard (1961). “The Heart of Thoreau's Journals”, p.6, Courier Corporation

The vessel, though her masts be firm,Beneath her copper bears a worm.

Henry David Thoreau
Bears, Worms, Copper
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.148, Penguin

You ask particularly after my health. I suppose that I have not many months to live; but, of course, I know nothing about it. I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever, and regret nothing.

Henry David Thoreau
Regret, Add, May
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.1902, Delphi Classics

We are all of us more or less active physiognomists.

Henry David Thoreau
Physiognomy, Active

The present hour is always wealthiest when it is poorer than the future ones, as that is the pleasantest site which affords the pleasantest prospect.

Henry David Thoreau
Hours, Site
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.1651, Delphi Classics

Nothing more strikingly betrays the credulity of mankind than medicine. Quackery is a thing universal, and universally successful. In this case it becomes literally true that no imposition is too great for the credulity of men.

Henry David Thoreau
Successful, Men, Medicine
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.197, Delphi Classics

Homeliness is almost as great a merit in a book as in a house, if the reader would abide there. It is next to beauty, and a very high art.

Henry David Thoreau
Art, Book, House
Henry David Thoreau (2000). “Walden and Other Writings: (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.387, Modern Library

The book exists for us, perchance, which will explain our miracles and reveal new ones.

Henry David Thoreau
Book, Miracle
Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.170

You must have a genius for charity as well as for anything else.

Henry David Thoreau
Charity, Genius, Wells
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.192, Penguin

Let Harlequin be taken with a fit of the colic, and his trappings will have to serve that mood too.

Henry David Thoreau
Taken, Fit, Mood
Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.43

When a soldier is hit by a cannonball, rags are as becoming as purple.

Henry David Thoreau
Purple, Soldier, Becoming
Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walden”, p.21, Booklassic

When I would go a-visiting, I find that I go off the fashionable street,--not being inclined to change my dress,--to where man meets man, and not polished shoe meets shoe.

Henry David Thoreau
Fashion, Men, Shoes
Henry David Thoreau, Odell Shepard (1961). “The Heart of Thoreau's Journals”, p.142, Courier Corporation

At death our friends and relatives either draw nearer to us and are found out, or depart farther from us and are forgotten. Friends are as often brought nearer together as separated by death.

Henry David Thoreau
Friends, Together, Forgotten
Henry David Thoreau, Horace Elisha Scudder, Harrison Gray Otis Blake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn (1898). “The writings of Henry David Thoreau”

I have myself to respect, but to myself I am not amiable; but my friend is my amiableness personified.

Henry David Thoreau
Friends, My Friends, Amiable
Henry David Thoreau (1894). “Winter”

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