A true politeness does not result from any hasty and artificial polishing, it is true, but grows naturally in characters of the right grain and quality, through a long fronting of men and events, and rubbing on good and bad fortune. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke strops our vice. Henry David Thoreau vices time integrity Truths and roses have thorns about them. Henry David Thoreau flower literature rose The hero is commonly the simplest and obscurest of men. Henry David Thoreau firefighter hero men In wildness is the preservation of the world. Henry David Thoreau camping transcendentalism world The man who does not betake himself at once and desperately to sawing is called a loafer, though he may be knocking at the doors of heaven all the while. Henry David Thoreau work doors men In winter we lead a more inward life. Our hearts are warm and cheery, like cottages under drifts. Henry David Thoreau inward heart winter A written word is the choicest of relics. It is something at once more intimate with us and more universal than any other work of art. It is the work of art nearest to life itself. It may be translated into every language, and not only be read but actually breathed from all human lips; -- not be represented on canvas or in marble only, but be carved out of the breath of life itself. Henry David Thoreau lips may art We must have infinite faith in each other. If we have not, we must never let it leak out that we have not. Henry David Thoreau leaks infinite faith My desire for knowledge is intermittent; but my desire to bathe my head in atmospheres unknown to my feet is perennial and constant. The highest that we can attain to is not Knowledge, but Sympathy with Intelligence. I do not know that this higher knowledge amounts to anything more definite than a novel and grand surprise on a sudden revelation of the insufficiency of all that we called Knowledge before,—a discovery that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy. Henry David Thoreau feet discovery philosophy Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail. Henry David Thoreau simplicity simple two The path of least resistance leads to crooked rivers and crooked men. Henry David Thoreau path rivers men Good for the body is the work of the body, good for the soul the work of the soul, and good for either the work of the other. Henry David Thoreau inspiration soul-and-body work First, there is the power of the Wind, constantly exerted over the globe... Here is an almost incalculable power at our disposal, yet how trifling the use we make of it. Henry David Thoreau energy use wind Music is perpetual, and only the hearing is intermittent. Henry David Thoreau intermittent hearing music Truth, Goodness, Beauty - those celestial thrins,Continually are born; e'en now the Universe,With thousand throats, and eke with greener smiles,Its joy confesses at their recent birth. Henry David Thoreau birth goodness joy The hounding of a dog pursuing a fox or other animal in the horizon may have first suggested the notes of the hunting-horn to alternate with and relieve the lungs of the dog. This natural bugle long resounded in the woods of the ancient world before the horn was invented. Henry David Thoreau music dog animal Christianity only hopes. It has hung its harp on the willows, and cannot sing a song in a strange land. It has dreamed a sad dream, and does not yet welcome the morning with joy. The mother tells her falsehoods to her child, but, thank heaven, the child does not grow up in its parent's shadow. Our mother's faith has not grown with her experience. Her experience has been too much for her. The lesson of life was too hard for her to learn. Henry David Thoreau mother dream song We loiter in winter while it is already spring. Henry David Thoreau gentle-rain winter spring What is human warfare but just this; an effort to make the laws of God and nature take sides with one party. Henry David Thoreau party war peace I silently smiled at my incessant good fortune. Henry David Thoreau incessant good-fortune fortune
