By a conscious effort of the mind we can stand aloof from actions and their consequences; and all things, good and bad, go by us like a torrent. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau I learned what it is to live in the open air, and I learned that our lives are domestic in more sense than we think. Henry David Thoreau our-lives air thinking The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forget them. They are the highest reality. Henry David Thoreau truth reality knowledge The true man of science will know nature better by his finer organization; he will smell, taste, see, hear, feel, better than other men. His will be a deeper and finer experience. We do not learn by inference and deduction and the application of mathematics to philosophy, but by direct intercourse and sympathy. It is with science as with ethics,--we cannot know truth by contrivance and method; the Baconian is as false as any other, and with all the helps of machinery and the arts, the most scientific will still be the healthiest and friendliest man, and possess a more perfect Indian wisdom. Henry David Thoreau feel-better philosophy art When we consider what, to use the words of the catechism, is the chief end of man, and what are the true necessaries and means of life, it appears as if men had deliberately chosen the common mode of living because they preferred it to any other. Yet they honestly think there is no choice left. Henry David Thoreau wisdom men mean Genius is not a retainer to any emperor. Henry David Thoreau emperor independence genius Generally speaking, the political news, whether domestic or foreign, might be written today for the next ten years with sufficientaccuracy. Most revolutions in society have not power to interest, still less alarm us; but tell me that our rivers are drying up, or the genus pine dying out in the country, and I might attend. Henry David Thoreau rivers country years Friendship is evanescent in every man's experience, and remembered like heat lightning in past summers. Henry David Thoreau summer friendship past A man may acquire a taste for wine or brandy, and so lose his love for water, but should we not pity him. Henry David Thoreau wine water men Probably if our lives were more conformed to nature, we should not need to defend ourselves against her heats and colds, but findher our constant nurse and friend, as do plants and quadrupeds. Henry David Thoreau nature nurse needs In the production of the necessaries of life Nature is ready enough to assist man. Henry David Thoreau nature men life Our thoughts are epochs in our lives; all else is but as a journal of the winds that blow while we are here. Henry David Thoreau blow inspirational life The newspapers, I perceive, devote some of their columns specially to politics or government without charge; and this, one would say, is all that saves it; but as I love literature and to some extent the truth also, I never read those columns at any rate. I do not wish to blunt my sense of right so much. Henry David Thoreau government literature wish The unconsciousness of man is the consciousness of God. Henry David Thoreau consciousness god men The youth may build or plant or sail, only let him not be hindered from doing that which he tells me he would like to do. Henry David Thoreau youth plant may What is most striking in the Maine wilderness is the continuousness of the forest, with fewer open intervals or glades than you had imagined. Except the few burnt lands, the narrow intervals on the rivers, the bare tops of the high mountains, and the lakes and streams, the forest is uninterrupted. Henry David Thoreau land lakes rivers It is tranquil people who accomplish much. Henry David Thoreau tranquility accomplish people Ice is an interesting subject for contemplation. They told me that they had some in the ice-houses at Fresh Pond five years old which was as good as ever. Why is it that a bucket of water soon becomes putrid, but frozen remains sweet forever? It is commonly said that this is the difference between the affections and the intellect. Henry David Thoreau ice sweet years When a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country [Mexico] is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent is the fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army. Henry David Thoreau army military country Despair and postponement are cowardice and defeat. Men were born to succeed, not to fail. Henry David Thoreau despair procrastination men What recommends commerce to me is its enterprise and bravery. It does not clasp its hands and pray to Jupiter. Henry David Thoreau jupiter bravery hands
