logo

Quotes from Henry David Thoreau

Inexpressibly beautiful appears the recognition by man of the least natural fact, and the allying his life to it.
~ Henry David Thoreau
A man might well pray that he may not taboo or curse any portion of nature by being buried in it.
~ Henry David Thoreau
For the most part, the best man's spirit makes a fearful sprite to haunt his grave.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Good religious men, with the love of men in their hearts, and the means to pay their toll in their pockets.
~ Henry David Thoreau
And pray what more can a reasonable man desire, in peaceful times, in ordinary noons, than a sufficient number of ears of green sweet corn boiled, with the addition of salt?
~ Henry David Thoreau
But perhaps a man is not required to bury himself.
~ Henry David Thoreau
The merely political aspect of the land is never very cheering; men are degraded when considered as the members of a political organization.
~ Henry David Thoreau
The man who takes the liberty to live is superior to all the laws, by virtue of his relation to the lawmaker.
~ Henry David Thoreau
How many fine thoughts has every man had! How few fine thoughts are expressed!
~ Henry David Thoreau
To the virtuous man, the universe is the only sanctum sanctorum, and the penetralia of the temple are the broad noon of his existence.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Men have a singular desire to be good without being good for anything, because, perchance, they think vaguely that so it will be good for them in the end.
~ Henry David Thoreau
I never dreamed of any enormity greater than I have committed. I never knew, and never shall know, a worse man than myself.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Oh, one world at a time!
~ Henry David Thoreau
Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it.
~ Henry David Thoreau
If I choose to devote myself to certain labors which yield more real profit, though but little money, they may be inclined to look on me as an idler.
~ Henry David Thoreau
It is difficult to begin without borrowing, but perhaps it is the most generous course thus to permit your fellowmen to have an interest in your enterprise.
~ Henry David Thoreau
. . . I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days. . . .
~ Henry David Thoreau
The only wealth is life.
~ Henry David Thoreau
I am never rich in money, and I am never meanly poor.
~ Henry David Thoreau
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
~ Henry David Thoreau
Morning glory is the best name, it always refreshes me to see it.
~ Henry David Thoreau
To him whose elastic and vigorous thought keeps pace with the sun, the day is a perpetual morning.
~ Henry David Thoreau
The sun is but a morning star.
~ Henry David Thoreau