Should not every apartment in which man dwells be lofty enough to create some obscurity overhead, where flickering shadows may play at evening about the rafters? Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one. Henry David Thoreau woods reason inspirational Amid a world of noisy, shallow actors it is noble to stand aside and say, 'I will simply be. Henry David Thoreau noble actors world So long as a man is faithful to himself, everything is in his favor, government, society, the very sun, moon, and stars. Henry David Thoreau stars moon inspirational I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. Henry David Thoreau dead-poets-society transcendentalism wilderness Follow your genius closely enough, and it will not fail to show you a fresh prospect every hour. Henry David Thoreau hours failing genius I could not help being struck with the foolishness of that institution which treated me as if I were mere flesh and blood and bones, to be locked up. Henry David Thoreau flesh helping blood Every blade in the field - Every leaf in the forest - lays down its life in its season as beautifully as it was taken up. Henry David Thoreau eulogy taken condolences I had three pieces of limestone on my desk, but I was terrified to find that they required to be dusted daily, when the furniture of my mind was all undusted still, and threw them out the window in disgust. Henry David Thoreau pieces three mind Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout. Henry David Thoreau convenience hearing speech I mean that they (students) should not play life, or study it merely, while the community supports them at this expensive game, but earnestly live it from beginning to end. How could youths better learn to live than by at once trying the experiment of living? Methinks this would exercise their minds as much as mathematics. Henry David Thoreau games exercise mean None can be an impartial or wise observer of human life but from the vantage ground of what we should call voluntary poverty. Henry David Thoreau poverty should wise If a man is alive, there is always danger that he may die, though the danger must be allowed to be less in proportion as he is dead-and-alive to begin with. A man sits as many risks as he runs. Henry David Thoreau risk running men What demon possessed me that I behaved so well? Henry David Thoreau transcendental rebellion demon Every sunset which I witness inspires me with the desire to go to a west as distant and as fair as that into which the Sun goes down. He appears to migrate westward daily and tempt us to follow him. He is the Great Western Pioneer whom the nations follow. We dream all night of those mountain ridges in the horizon, though they may be of vapor only, which were last gilded by his rays. Henry David Thoreau sunset dream night Rise free from care before the dawn, and seek adventures. Henry David Thoreau care dawn adventure Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so conducted or enterprised or sailed in some way, that we feel like new men in the old, and that to retain it would be like keeping new wine in old bottles. Henry David Thoreau wine men dirty No man ever stood the lower in my estimation for having a patch in his clothes: yet I am sure that there is greater anxiety, commonly, to have fashionable, or at least clean and unpatched clothes, than to have a sound conscience. Henry David Thoreau anxiety clothes men Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. I drink at it; but while I drink I see the sandy bottom and detect how shallow it is. Its thin current slides away, but eternity remains. Henry David Thoreau eternity-of-life fishing time Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin! Henry David Thoreau women inspiring meaningful As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail. Henry David Thoreau jail differences long
