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 You must have a genius for charity as well as for anything else. Henry David Thoreau wells charity genius Let Harlequin be taken with a fit of the colic, and his trappings will have to serve that mood too. Henry David Thoreau fit mood taken When a soldier is hit by a cannonball, rags are as becoming as purple. Henry David Thoreau purple becoming soldier When I would go a-visiting, I find that I go off the fashionable street,--not being inclined to change my dress,--to where man meets man, and not polished shoe meets shoe. Henry David Thoreau shoes fashion men At death our friends and relatives either draw nearer to us and are found out, or depart farther from us and are forgotten. Friends are as often brought nearer together as separated by death. Henry David Thoreau friends forgotten together I have myself to respect, but to myself I am not amiable; but my friend is my amiableness personified. Henry David Thoreau amiable friends my-friends Friendship is the unspeakable joy and blessing that result to two or more individuals who from constitution sympathize. Such natures are liable to no mistakes, but will know each other through thick and thin. Between two by nature alike and fitted to sympathize, there is no veil, and there can be no obstacle. Who are the estranged? Two friends explaining. Henry David Thoreau blessing mistake friendship We inspire friendship in men when we have contracted friendship with the gods. Henry David Thoreau friendship men inspire It is not when I am going to meet him, but when I am just turning away and leaving him alone, that I discover what God is. I say, God. I am not sure that that is the name. You will know what I mean. Henry David Thoreau god names mean If we see nature as pausing, immediately all mortifies and decays; but seen as progressing, she is beautiful. Henry David Thoreau progress nature beautiful Simplicity is the law of Nature for man as well as for flowers. When the tapestry (corolla) of the nuptial bed (calyx) is excessive, luxuriant, it is unproductive. The fertile flowers are single, not double. Henry David Thoreau flower law men Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that intervene between a man and his fellows. The really diligent student in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge college is as solitary as a dervis in the desert. Henry David Thoreau space college men As all curves have reference to their centres or foci, so all beauty of character has reference to the soul, and is a graceful gesture of recognition or waving of the body toward it. Henry David Thoreau curves focus character There may be something petty in a refined taste; it easily degenerates into effeminacy. It does not consider the broadest use. It is not content with simple good and bad, and so is fastidious and curious or nice only. Henry David Thoreau nice simple doe Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness. Henry David Thoreau i-am-sorry bitterness truth Truth never turns to rebuke falsehood; her own straightforwardness is the severest correction. Henry David Thoreau rebuke turns truth Wealth cannot purchase any great private solace or convenience. Riches are only the means of sociality. Henry David Thoreau riches wealth mean When some of my friends have asked me anxiously about their boys, whether they should let them hunt, I have answered yes-- remembering that it was one of the best parts of my education-- make them hunters. Henry David Thoreau hunting hunters boys In what concerns you much, do not think that you have companions: know that you are alone in the world. Henry David Thoreau companion world thinking Most men cry better than they speak. You get more nurture out of them by pinching than addressing them. Henry David Thoreau cry speak men
