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 The poet is blithe and cheery ever, and as well as nature. Henry David Thoreau blithe poet poetry A township where one primitive forest waves above while another primitive forest rots below,--such a town is fitted to raise not only corn and potatoes, but poets and philosophers for the coming ages. In such a soil grew Homer and Confucius and the rest, and out of such a wilderness comes the Reformer eating locusts and wild honey. Henry David Thoreau poetry age honey The science of Humboldt is one thing, poetry is another thing. The poet to-day, notwithstanding all the discoveries of science, and the accumulated learning of mankind, enjoys no advantage over Homer. Henry David Thoreau poetry discovery science I have no doubt that they lived pretty much the same sort of life in the Homeric age, for men have always thought more of eating than of fighting; then, as now, their minds ran chiefly on the "hot bread and sweet cakes;" and the fur and lumber trade is an old story to Asia and Europe. Henry David Thoreau fighting sweet war If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. Henry David Thoreau giving-up men war Undoubtedly, in the most brilliant successes, the first rank is always sacrificed. Henry David Thoreau success war firsts Show me two villages, one embowered in trees and blazing with all the glories of October, the other a merely trivial and treelesswaste, or with only a single tree or two for suicides, and I shall be sure that in the latter will be found the most starved and bigoted religionists and the most desperate drinkers. Henry David Thoreau suicide tree two It is remarkable that almost all speakers and writers feel it to be incumbent on them, sooner or later, to prove or acknowledge the personality of God. Some Earl of Bridgewater, thinking it better late than never, has provided for it in his will. It is a sad mistake. Henry David Thoreau god mistake thinking The Iliad represents no creed nor opinion, and we read it with a rare sense of freedom and irresponsibility, as if we trod on native ground, and were autochthones of the soil. Henry David Thoreau soil opinion religion Yet the New Testament treats of man and man's so-called spiritual affairs too exclusively, and is too constantly moral and personal, to alone content me, who am not interested solely in man's religious or moral nature, or in man even. Henry David Thoreau religious spiritual bible Really, there is no infidelity, nowadays, so great as that which prays, and keeps the Sabbath, and rebuilds the churches. The sealer of the South Pacific preaches a truer doctrine. Henry David Thoreau infidelity hypocrisy religion Heal yourselves, doctors; by God I live. Henry David Thoreau doctors health religion Bribed with a little sunlight and a few prismatic tints, we bless our Maker, and stave off his wrath with hymns. Henry David Thoreau hymns wrath god Let no one think that I do not love the old ministers. They were, probably, the best men in their generation, and they deserve that their biographies should fill the pages of the town histories. If I could but hear the "glad tidings" of which they tell, and which, perchance, they heard, I might write in a worthier strain than this. Henry David Thoreau writing men thinking In the religion of all nations a purity is hinted at, which, I fear, men never attain to. Henry David Thoreau purity men religion In my cheapest moments I am apt to think that it is n't my business to be "seeking the spirit," but as much its business to be seeking me. Henry David Thoreau inspirational life thinking One revelation has been made to the Indian, another to the white man. Henry David Thoreau white-man men religion Our manners have been corrupted by communication with the saints. Our hymn-books resound with a melodious cursing of God and enduring Him forever. One would say that even the prophets and redeemers had rather consoled the fears than confirmed the hopes of man. There is nowhere recorded a simple and irrepressible satisfaction with the gift of life, any memorable praise of God. Henry David Thoreau communication memorable book Each humblest plant, or weed, as we call it, stands there to express some thought or mood of ours; and yet how long it stands in vain!... Beauty and true wealth are always thus cheap and despised. Henry David Thoreau weed beauty long The world, which the Greeks called Beauty, has been made such by being gradually divested of every ornament which was not fitted to endure. Henry David Thoreau ornaments greek beauty
