The inhabitants of the Cape generally do not complain of their "soil," but will tell you that it is good enough for them to dry their fish on. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau We are conscious of an animal in us, which awakens in proportion as our higher nature slumbers. It is reptile and sensual, and perhaps cannot be wholly expelled; like the worms which, even in life and health, occupy our bodies. Possibly we may withdraw from it, but never change its nature. I fear that it may enjoy a certain health of its own; that we may be well, yet not pure. Henry David Thoreau health sensual animal The poet's body even is not fed like other men's, but he sometimes tastes the genuine nectar and ambrosia of the gods, and lives adivine life. By the healthful and invigorating thrills of inspiration his life is preserved to a serene old age. Henry David Thoreau serenity inspirational men Such is always the pursuit of knowledge. The celestial fruits, the golden apples of the Hesperides, are ever guarded by a hundred-headed dragon which never sleeps, so that it is an Herculean labor to pluck them. Henry David Thoreau dragons sleep knowledge While my friend was my friend, he flattered me, and I never heard the truth from him. When he became my enemy, he shot it to me on a poisoned arrow. Henry David Thoreau arrows friendship enemy When I consider that the noble animals have been exterminated here - the cougar, panther, lynx, wolverine, wolf, bear, moose, deer, the beaver, the turkey, etc, etc - I cannot but feel as I lived in a tamed, and, as it were, emasculated country. Henry David Thoreau animal funny country Most men appear never to have considered what a house is, and are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think that they must have such a one as their neighbors have. ... Shall we always study to obtain more, and not sometimes be content with less? Henry David Thoreau house men thinking A man cannot be said to succeed in this life who does not satisfy one friend. Henry David Thoreau success friendship life Not only must we be good, but we must also be good for something. Henry David Thoreau fundraising good-life son The Heavens are as deep as our aspirations are high. Henry David Thoreau aspiration angel heaven The birds I heard today, which, fortunately, did not come within the scope of my science, sang as freshly as if it had been the first morning of creation. Henry David Thoreau nature morning science We are made happy when reason can discover no occasion for it. The memory of some past moments is more persuasive than the experience of present ones. There have been visions of such breadth and brightness that these motes were invisible in their light. Henry David Thoreau laughter happiness memories There will never be a really free and enlightened state until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived. Henry David Thoreau enlightened independent politics Our sadness is not sad, but our cheap joys. Henry David Thoreau sadness joy It is no more dusky in ordinary nights than our mind's habitual atmosphere, and the moonlight is as bright as our most illuminatedmoments are. Henry David Thoreau atmosphere inspirational night To be right is more honorable than to be law abiding. Henry David Thoreau honorable abiding law One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve. Henry David Thoreau attractive-things flower beautiful You never gain something but that you lose something. Henry David Thoreau loses gains I repeat that in this sense the most splendid court in Christendom is provincial, having authority to consult about Transalpine interests only, and not the affairs of Rome. A prætor or proconsul would suffice to settle the questions which absorb the attention of the English Parliament and the American Congress. Henry David Thoreau rome government attention I am engaged to Concord and my own private pursuits by 10,000 ties, and it would be suicide to rend them. Henry David Thoreau independence ties suicide I know this well, that if one thousand, if one hundred, if ten men whom I could name,--if ten honest men only,--ay, if one HONESTman, in this State of Massachusetts, ceasing to hold slaves, were actually to withdraw from this copartnership, and be locked up in the county jail therefor, it would be the abolition of slavery in America. For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever. Henry David Thoreau abolition-of-slavery names men
