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 It is childish to rest in the discovery of mere coincidences, or of partial and extraneous laws. Henry David Thoreau law discovery science Man cannot afford to be a naturalist, to look at Nature directly, but only with the side of his eye. He must look through and beyond her. Henry David Thoreau nature eye science I have a deep sympathy with war; it so apes the gait and bearing of the soul. Henry David Thoreau soul sympathy war After all the field of battle possesses many advantages over the drawing-room. There at least is no room for pretension or excessive ceremony, no shaking of hands or rubbing of noses, which make one doubt your sincerity, but hearty as well as hard hand-play. It at least exhibits one of the faces of humanity, the former only a mask. Henry David Thoreau drawing play hands The very uprightness of the pines and maples asserts the ancient rectitude and vigor of nature. Our lives need the relief of such a background, where the pine flourishes and the jay still screams. Henry David Thoreau relief nature needs I love a broad margin to my life. Sometimes, in a summer morning, having taken my accustomed bath, I sat in my sunny doorway from sunrise til noon, rapt in a revery. Henry David Thoreau taken summer morning A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. Henry David Thoreau wise wish men 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 effort mind action The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. Henry David Thoreau machines body men As the least drop of wine tinges the whole goblet, so the least particle of truth colors our whole life. Henry David Thoreau color wine truth The sacredness, if there is any, is all in yourself and not in the place. Henry David Thoreau sacredness ifs I love nature, I love the landscape, because it is so sincere. It never cheats me. It never jests. It is cheerfully, musically earnest. I lie and relie on the earth. Henry David Thoreau landscape earth lying Fire is the most tolerable third party Henry David Thoreau third-parties party fire I have learned that the swiftest traveller is he that goes afoot. Henry David Thoreau i-have-learned traveller In the wilderness is the salvation of the world. Henry David Thoreau wilderness salvation world A little thought is sexton to all the world. Henry David Thoreau littles world My eye is educated to discover anything on the ground, as chestnuts, etc. It is probably wholesomer to look at the ground much than at the heavens. Henry David Thoreau eye education heaven To watch this crystal globe just sent from heaven to associate with me. While these clouds and this somber drizzling weather shut all in, we two draw nearer and know one another. Henry David Thoreau clouds weather two We worship not the Graces, nor the Parcae, but Fashion. She spins and weaves and cuts with full authority. The head monkey at Paris puts on a traveler's cap, and all the monkeys in America do the same. Henry David Thoreau fashion humorous funny Nature, even when she is scant and thin outwardly, satisfies us still by the assurance of a certain generosity at the roots. Henry David Thoreau generosity certain roots
