But man's capacities have never been measured; nor are we to judge of what he can do by any precedents, so little have been tried. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau Poetry is the only life got, the only work done, the only pure product and free labor of man, performed only when he has put all the world under his feet, and conquered the last of his foes. Henry David Thoreau poetryfeetmen Friends are made for caring and sharing. Friends do not live in harmony merely, as some say, but in melody. Henry David Thoreau harmonycaringmade The student who secures his coveted leisure and retirement by systematically shirking any labor necessary to man obtains but an ignoble and unprofitable leisure, defrauding himself of the experience which alone can make leisure fruitful. Henry David Thoreau leisureeducationretirement The Friend asks no return but that his Friend will religiously accept and wear and not disgrace his apotheosis of him. They cherish each other's hopes. They are kind to each other's dreams. Henry David Thoreau apotheosisdreamfriendship As for the dispute about solitude and society, any comparison is impertinent. It is an idling down on the plane at the base of a mountain, instead of climbing steadily to its top. Henry David Thoreau climbingsocietysolitude The universe expects every man to do his duty in his parallel of latitude. Henry David Thoreau vocationdutymen Who could believe in the prophecies ... that the world would end this summer, while one milkweed with faith matured its seeds. Henry David Thoreau summersciencebelieve The gods are partial to no era, but steadily shines their light in the heavens, while the eye of the beholder is turned to stone.There was but the sun and the eye from the first. The ages have not added a new ray to the one, nor altered a fibre of the other. Henry David Thoreau lighteyesight A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure. Henry David Thoreau colorwritingmorning 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 real-friendshappinessfriendship A true Friendship is as wise as it is tender. The parties to it yield implicitly to the guidance of their love, and know no otherlaw nor kindness. Henry David Thoreau true-friendwisefriendship I sailed on the North River last night with my flute, and my music was a tinkling stream which meandered with the river, and fell from note to note as a brook from rock to rock. I did not hear the strains after they had issued from the flute, but before they were breathed into it, for the original strain precedes the sound by as much as the echo follows after, and the rest is the perquisite of the rocks and trees and beasts. Unpremeditated music is the true gauge which measures the current of our thoughts, the very undertow of our life's stream. Henry David Thoreau echoesmusicnight 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 communitywould-bemen The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poor-house. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace. Henry David Thoreau cheerspringmen The true harvest of my life is intangible - a little star dust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched. Henry David Thoreau intangible-qualityduststars One must maintain a little bittle of summer, even in the middle of winter. Henry David Thoreau naturesummerinspirational On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend's life also, in our own, to the world. Henry David Thoreau bereavementfatedeath 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 libertywritingfacts It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being. Henry David Thoreau catdogmen How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. Henry David Thoreau beautifullifebook
