As a true patriot, I should be ashamed to think that Adam in paradise was more favorably situated on the whole than the backwoodsman in this country. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau Lose the world, get lost in it, and find your soul. Henry David Thoreau soullostworld The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest. Henry David Thoreau squirrelsphilosophicalanimal I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever, and regret nothing. Henry David Thoreau regretmayadd The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run. Henry David Thoreau timerunninglife Sobriety, severity, and self-respect are the foundations of all true sociality. Henry David Thoreau sobrietyrespectself If I choose to devote myself to certain labors which yield more real profit, though but little money, they may be inclined to look on me as an idler. Henry David Thoreau yieldrealwork Writing your name can lead to writing sentences. And the next thing you'll be doing is writing paragraphs, and then books. And then you'll be in as much trouble as I am! Henry David Thoreau nameswritingbook To have done anything just for money is to have been truly idle. Henry David Thoreau idlemoneydone What is sour in the house a bracing walk in the woods makes sweet. Henry David Thoreau woodshousesweet All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable. Henry David Thoreau unendurablerevolutionmen I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe — "That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. Henry David Thoreau politicsmenbelieve 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 afternoonwoodsmight If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man. Henry David Thoreau diesplantmen The universe is wider than our views of it. Henry David Thoreau spaceviewsscience The most difficult thing to understand during conversation is silence. Henry David Thoreau speechsilenceconversation Life consists with Wildness. The most alive is the wildest. Not yet subdued to man, its presence refreshes him. One who pressed forward incessantly and never rested from his labors, who grew fast and made infinite demands on life, would always find himself in a new country or wilderness, and surrounded by the raw material of life. He would be climbing over the prostrate stems of primitive forest trees. Henry David Thoreau climbingmencountry The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the characters of individuals. Henry David Thoreau ethicsintegritycharacter All that is told of the sea has a fabulous sound to an inhabitant of the land and all its products have a certain fabulous quality, as if they belonged to another planet. Henry David Thoreau qualitylandsea Men go back to the mountains, as they go back to sailing ships at sea, because in the mountains and on the sea they must face up. Henry David Thoreau inspirationalmenfunny 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 naturegoodbyelove
