Such is the never-failing beauty and accuracy of language, the most perfect art in the world; the chisel of a thousand years retouches it. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau I also have in mind that seemingly wealthy, but most terribly impoverished class of all, who have accumulated dross, but know not how to use it, or get rid of it, and thus have forged their own golden or silver fetters. Henry David Thoreau gold mind class The civilized man is a more experienced and wiser savage. Henry David Thoreau savages experience men Spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy questionable liberty during the least valuable part of it, reminds me of the Englishman who went to India to make a fortune first, in order that he might return to England and live the life of a poet. He should have gone up garret at once. Henry David Thoreau live-life should-have order Sell your clothes- keep your thoughts. Henry David Thoreau sells clothes The millions are awake enough for physical labor; but only one in a million is awake enough for effective intellectual exertion, only one in a hundred millions to a poetic or divine life. To be awake is to be alive. Henry David Thoreau poetic alive intellectual Life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself. So live the life you imagined. Henry David Thoreau creating-life finding-yourself live-life In some countries a hunting parson is no uncommon sight. Such a one might make a good shepherd's dog, but is far from being the Good Shepherd. Henry David Thoreau hunting dog country Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit. Henry David Thoreau july summer life Talk about slavery! It is not the peculiar institution of the South. It exists wherever men are bought and sold, wherever a man allows himself to be made a mere thing or a tool, and surrenders his inalienable rights of reason and conscience. Indeed, this slavery is more complete than that which enslaves the body alone. Henry David Thoreau judging rights men Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows. Henry David Thoreau teaching peace life America is said to be the arena on which the battle of freedom is to be fought; but surely it cannot be freedom in a merely political sense that is meant. Even if we grant that the American has freed himself from a political tyrant, he is still the slave of an economical and moral tyrant. Now that the republic--the res- publica--has been settled, it is time to look after the res- privata,--the private state,--to see, as the Roman Senate charged its consuls, "ne quid res-PRIVATA detrimenti caperet," that the private state receive no detriment. Henry David Thoreau tyrants freedom america It is pitiful when a man bears a name for convenience merely, who has earned neither name nor fame. Henry David Thoreau names bears men See how he cowers and sneaks, how vaguely all the day he fears, not being immortal nor divine, but the slave and prisoner of his own opinion of himself, a fame won by his own deeds. Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion. What a man thinks of himself, that it is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate. Henry David Thoreau fate men thinking Whether we live by the seaside, or by the lakes and rivers, or on the prarie, it concerns us to attend to the nature of fishes, since they are not phenomena confined to certain localities only, but forms and phases of the life in nature universally dispersed. The countless shoals which annually coast the shores of Europe and America are not so interesting to the student of nature as the more fertile law itselffrom which it results that they may be found in water in so many places, in greater or lesser numbers. Henry David Thoreau europe-and-america nature lakes If there is any hell more unprincipled than our rulers, and we, the ruled, I feel curious to see it. Henry David Thoreau curious hell feels When the ground was partially bare of snow, and a few warm days had dried its surface somewhat, it was pleasant to compare the first tender signs of the infant year just peeping forth with the stately beauty of the withered vegetation which had withstood the winterdecent weeds, at least, which widowed Nature wears. Henry David Thoreau weed winter spring Politics is the gizzard of society, full of gut and gravel. Henry David Thoreau gravel society politics I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man. Henry David Thoreau wise men believe A man's social and spiritual discipline must answer to his corporeal. He must lean on a friend who has a hard breast, as he wouldlie on a hard bed. He must drink cold water for his only beverage. So he must not hear sweetened and colored words, but pure and refreshing truths. He must daily bathe in truth cold as spring water, not warmed by the sympathy of friends. Henry David Thoreau spiritual spring friendship I trust that some may be as near and dear to Buddha, or Christ, or Swedenborg, who are without the pale of their churches. Henry David Thoreau church may christ
