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 The perch swallows the grub-worm, the pickerel swallows the perch, and the fisherman swallows the pickerel; and so all the chinks in the scale of being are filled. Henry David Thoreau fishing sea lakes Only the defeated and deserters go to war. Henry David Thoreau defeated war Our science, so called, is always more barren and mixed with error than our sympathies. Henry David Thoreau barren errors science There are continents and seas in the moral world, to which every man is an isthmus or inlet, yet unexplored by him. Henry David Thoreau sea men world My facts shall be falsehoods to the common sense. I would so state facts that they shall be significant, shall be myths or mythologic. Facts which the mind perceived, thoughts which the body thought - with these I deal. Henry David Thoreau common-sense body mind We are eager to tunnel under the Atlantic and bring the Old World some weeks nearer to the New; but perchance the first news that will leak through into the broad, flapping American ear will be that the Princess Adelaide has the whooping cough. Henry David Thoreau princess media tunnels I, who cannot stay in my chamber for a single day without acquiring some rust, and when sometimes I have stolen forth for a walk at the eleventh hour of four o'clock in the afternoon, too late to redeem the day, when the shades of night were already beginning to be mingled with the daylight, have felt as if I had committed some sin to be atoned for. Henry David Thoreau shade hiking night Every walk is a sort of crusade, preached by some Peter the Hermit in us. Henry David Thoreau sauntering hiking journey Some do not walk at all; others walk in the highways; a few walk across lots. Henry David Thoreau walking-home hiking journey We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return - sending back our embalmed hearts only as relics to our desolate kingdoms. Henry David Thoreau journey heart adventure Of course it is of no use to direct our steps to the woods, if they do not carry us thither. I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit.... What business have I in the woods, if I am thinking of something out of the woods? Henry David Thoreau hiking journey thinking The success of great scholars and thinkers is commonly a courtier-like success, not kingly, not manly. Henry David Thoreau scholar thinker success I desire that there be as many different persons in the world as possible; I would have each one be very careful to find out and preserve his own way. Henry David Thoreau different desire thinking Having each some shingles of thought well dried, we sat and whittled them. Henry David Thoreau shingles sat thinking A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men. When the majority shall at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will then be the only slaves. Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his own freedom by his vote. Henry David Thoreau wisdom wise men I was born upon thy bank, river, My blood flows in thy stream, And thou meanderest forever, At the bottom of my dream. Henry David Thoreau dream rivers blood In the love of narrow souls I make many short voyages but in vain-I find no sea room-but in great souls I sail before the wind without a watch, and never reach the shore. Henry David Thoreau soul sea wind Not secondary to the sun, she gives us his blaze again, Void of its flame, and sheds a softer day... In Heaven queen she is among the spheres; She, mistress-like, makes all things to be pure. Henry David Thoreau flames queens moon We do not associate the idea of antiquity with the ocean, nor wonder how it looked a thousand years ago, as we do of the land, for it was equally wild and unfathomable always. Henry David Thoreau ocean nature travel This was sheer idleness to my fellow-townsmen, no doubt; but if the birds and flowers had tried me by their standard, I should not have been found wanting. A man must find his occasions in himself, it is true. The natural day is very calm, and will hardly reprove his indolence. Henry David Thoreau flower bird men
