Most people dread finding out when they come to die that they have never really lived. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau I find it, as ever, very unprofitable to have much to do with men. It is sowing the wind, but not reaping even the whirlwind; onlyreaping an unprofitable calm and stagnation. Our conversation is a smooth, and civil, and never-ending speculation merely. Henry David Thoreau society wind men I have seen more men than usual, lately; and, well as I was acquainted with one, I am surprised to find what vulgar fellows they are. Henry David Thoreau society usual men I would not have every man nor every part of a man cultivated, any more than I would have every acre of earth cultivated: part will be tillage, but the greater part will be meadow and forest, not only serving an immediate use, but preparing a mould against a distant future, by the annual decay of the vegetation which it supports. Henry David Thoreau support society men The finest manners in the world are awkwardness and fatuity when contrasted with a finer intelligence. They appear but as the fashions of past days,--mere courtliness, knee-buckles and small- clothes, out of date. Henry David Thoreau clothes fashion past I would fain keep sober always; and there are infinite degrees of drunkenness. Henry David Thoreau sober degrees drinking There was something refreshingly and wildly musical to my ears in the very name of the white man's canoe, reminding me of Charlevoix and Canadian Voyageurs. The batteau is a sort of mongrel between the canoe and the boat, a fur-trader's boat. Henry David Thoreau white-man names men I have found all things thus far, persons and inanimate matter, elements and seasons, strangely adapted to my resources. Henry David Thoreau optimism elements matter Do not engage to find things as you think they are. Henry David Thoreau optimism discovery thinking As for health, consider yourself well. Henry David Thoreau optimism wells health I never yet knew the sun to be knocked down and rolled through a mud-puddle; he comes out honor-bright from behind every storm. Let us then take sides with the sun, seeing we have so much leisure. Henry David Thoreau storm optimism honor A sufficiently great and generous trust could never be abused. Henry David Thoreau generous optimism trust The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel. Henry David Thoreau globes optimism energy Every day our garments become more assimilated to ourselves, receiving the impress of the wearer's character, until we hesitate tolay them aside without such delay and medical appliances and some such solemnity even as our bodies. Henry David Thoreau delay receiving character As a man grows older, his ability to sit still and follow indoor occupations increases. He grows vespertinal in his habits as theevening of life approaches, till at last he comes forth only just before sundown, and gets all the walk that he requires in half an hour. Henry David Thoreau half age men I always see those of whom I have heard well with a slight disappointment. They are so much better than the great herd, and yet the heavens are not shivered into diamonds over their heads. Henry David Thoreau herds disappointment heaven How often, when we have been nearest each other bodily, have we really been farthest off! Our tongues were the witty foils with which we fenced each other off. Henry David Thoreau tongue conversation witty The very dogs that sullenly bay the moon from farm-yards in these nights excite more heroism in our breasts than all the civil exhortations or war sermons of the age. Henry David Thoreau moon dog war There must be some nerve and heroism in our love, as of a winter morning. Henry David Thoreau heroism winter morning I am less affected by their heroism who stood up for half an hour in the front line at Buena Vista, than by the steady and cheerful valor of the men who inhabit the snow-plow for their winter quarters; who have not merely the three-o'-clock-in-the-morning courage, which Bonaparte thought was the rarest, but whose courage does not go to rest so early, who go to sleep only when the storm sleeps or the sinews of their iron steed are frozen. Henry David Thoreau sleep winter morning But, on more accounts than one, I had had enough of moose-hunting. I had not come to the woods for this purpose, nor had I foreseen it, though I had been willing to learn how the Indian manvred; but one moose killed was as good, if not as bad, as a dozen. Henry David Thoreau moose hunting purpose
