Men do not fail commonly for want of knowledge, but for want of prudence to give wisdom the preference. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau Good poetry seems so simple and natural a thing that when we meet it we wonder that all men are not always poets. Poetry is nothing but healthy speech. Henry David Thoreau poetrysimplemen A man is wise with the wisdom of his time only, and ignorant with its ignorance. Henry David Thoreau ignorancewisdomwise I am struck by the simplicity of light in the atmosphere in the autumn, as if the earth absorbed none, and out of this profusion of dazzling light came the autumnal tints. Henry David Thoreau autumnsimplicitylight I would give all the wealth of the world, and all the deeds of all the heroes, for one true vision. Henry David Thoreau heroinspirationalgiving The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective. Henry David Thoreau sailingpulseplay Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way. Henry David Thoreau libertarianlibertygovernment Spring-an experience in immortality. Henry David Thoreau immortalityspring One attraction in coming to the woods to live was that I should have leisure and opportunity to see the spring come in. Henry David Thoreau should-havespringopportunity No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof. Henry David Thoreau ancientwaythinking Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment; that background which the painter may not daub, be he master or bungler, and which, however awkward a figure we may have made in the foreground, remains ever our inviolable asylum, where no indignity can assail, no personality can disturb us. Henry David Thoreau silencedisappointmentpersonality Morning glory is the best name, it always refreshes me to see it. Henry David Thoreau sunrisenamesmorning Methinks my own soul must be a bright invisible green. Henry David Thoreau gardensoulreligion Nature abhors a vacuum, and if I can only walk with sufficient carelessness I am sure to be filled. Henry David Thoreau naturewisdomscience The sun is but a morning star. Henry David Thoreau good-morningstarsnature Is not disease the rule of existence? There is not a lily pad floating on the river but has been riddled by insects. Almost every shrub and tree has its gall, oftentimes esteemed its chief ornament and hardly to be distinguished from the fruit. If misery loves company, misery has company enough. Now, at midsummer, find me a perfect leaf or fruit. Henry David Thoreau perfectriverstree "Hear! hear!" screamed the jay from a neighboring tree, where I had heard a tittering for some time, "winter has a concentrated and nutty kernel, if you know where to look for it." Henry David Thoreau wintertreelooks How novel and original must be each new mans view of the universe - for though the world is so old - and so many books have been written - each object appears wholly undescribed to our experience - each field of thought wholly unexplored - the whole world is an America - a New World. Henry David Thoreau viewsbookamerica We are enabled to apprehend at all what is sublime and noble only by the perpetual instilling and drenching of the reality that surrounds us. We can never have enough of nature. Henry David Thoreau atheismsublimereality In August, the large masses of berries, which, when in flower, had attracted many wild bees, gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue, and by their weight again bent down and broke their tender limbs. Henry David Thoreau augustflowersummer Be not merely good. Be good for something. Henry David Thoreau be-goodgood-timesintegrity
