To inherit property is not to be born - it is to be still-born, rather. Henry David Thoreau More Quotes by Henry David Thoreau More Quotes From Henry David Thoreau This is a delicious evening, when the whole body is one sense, and imbibes delight through every pore. Henry David Thoreau evening delight body My days were not days of the week, bearing the stamp of any heathen deity, nor were they minced into hours and fretted by the ticking of a clock; for I lived like the Puri Indians, of whom it is said that "for yesterday, today, and tomorrow they have only one word, and they express the variety of meaning by pointing backward for yesterday forward for tomorrow, and overhead for the passing day." This was sheer idleness to my fellow-townsmen, no doubt; but if the birds and flowers had tried me by their standard, I should not have been found wanting. Henry David Thoreau flower yesterday bird Don't get to the end of your life and realize you have never lived. Henry David Thoreau realizing ends The true and not despairing Friend will address his Friend in some such terms as these. "I never asked thy leave to let me love thee,--I have a right. I love thee not as something private and personal, which is your own, but as something universal and worthy of love, which I have found. O, how I think of you! You are purely good, --you are infinitely good. I can trust you forever. I did not think that humanity was so rich. Give me an opportunity to live. Henry David Thoreau opportunity giving thinking Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines. Henry David Thoreau air time food We seem but to linger in manhood to tell the dreams of our childhood, and they vanish out of memory ere we learn the language. Henry David Thoreau dream time memories How earthy old people become --moldy as the grave! Their wisdom smacks of the earth. There is no foretaste of immortality in it. They remind me of earthworms and mole crickets. Henry David Thoreau age time people The cost of a thing is something called life which is given in exchange for it. Henry David Thoreau given cost being-happy Education makes a straight ditch of a free meandering brook. Henry David Thoreau brooks education The mason asks but a narrow shelf to spring his brick from; man requires only an infinitely narrower one to spring his arch of faith from. Henry David Thoreau faith spring men The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. Henry David Thoreau evening morning happiness I love the broad margin to my life. Henry David Thoreau life-happiness broads happiness What wisdom, what warning can prevail against gladness? There is no law so strong that a little gladness may not transgress. Henry David Thoreau strong law happiness Measure your health by your sympathy with morning and Spring. Henry David Thoreau health spring morning What right have I to grieve, who have not ceased to wonder? Henry David Thoreau heartbreak grief grieving I have lived some thirty years on this planet, and I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors. Henry David Thoreau senior learning life My life is like a stroll upon the beach. Henry David Thoreau life-is-like life beach I felt a positive yearning toward one bush this afternoon. There was a match found for me at last. I fell in love with a shrub oak. Henry David Thoreau shrubs afternoon nature Yet poetry, though the last and finest result, is a natural fruit. As naturally as the oak bears an acorn, and the vine a gourd, man bears a poem, either spoken or done. It is the chief and most memorable success, for history is but a prose narrative of poetic deeds. Henry David Thoreau poetry memorable men The really efficient laborer will be found not to crowd his day with work, but will saunter to his task surrounded by a wide halo of ease and leisure. Henry David Thoreau business work success
