Quotes from Henry David Thoreau

Who looks in the sun will see no light else; but also he will see no shadow. Our life revolves unceasingly, but the centre is ever the same, and the wise will regard only the seasons of the soul.

When I think of the gold-diggers and the Mormons, the slaves and the slave-holders and the flibustiers, I naturally dream of a glorious private life. No, I am not patriotic.

Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life

We make needless ado about capital punishment,--taking lives, when there is no life to take.

I wish to learn what life has to teach, and not, when I come to die, discover that I have not truly lived.

There are various tough problems yet to solve, and we must shift to live, betwixt spirit and matter, such a human life as we can.

How many things there are concerning which we might well deliberate whether we had better know them.

As long as I have the friendship of the sesasons life will never be a burden to me.

So near along life's stream are the fountains of innocence and youth making fertile its sandy margin; and the voyageur will do well to replenish his vessels often at these uncontaminated sources.

Having reached the term of his natural life"; Mwould it not be truer to say, Having reached the term of his unnatural life?

The opportunities of living are diminished in proportion as what are called the "means" are increased.

And by another year, Such as God knows, with freer air, More fruits and fairer flowers Will bear, While I droop here.

We are the subjects of an experiment which is not a little interesting to me.

I never read a novel, they have so little real life and thought in them.

To see wild life you must go forth at wild season.

Thus was my first year's life in the woods completed; and the second year was similar to it. I finally left Walden September 6th,1847.

Do not suffer your life to be taken by newspapers.

How many a poor immortal soul I have met well-nigh crushed and smothered under its load, creeping down the road of life, pushing before it [an oversized home].

I suppose that I have not many months to live: but of course I know nothing about it. I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever, and regret nothing.

We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers. A man thinking or working is always alone, let him be where he will.

The Artist is he who detects and applies the law from observation of the works of Genius, whether of man or Nature. The Artisan is he who merely applies the rules which others have detected.

There are moments when all anxiety and stated toil are becalmed in the infinite leisure and repose of nature.

What a pity if we do not live this short time according to the laws of the long time,--the eternal laws!

Kindness to children, love for children, goodness to children-- these are the only investments that never fail.