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Henry David Thoreau Quotes - Page 7

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Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.

Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.

Henry David Thoreau
Life, Positive, Simple
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.11, Simon and Schuster

The future is too soon the past. So make perseverance your excellence and go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Henry David Thoreau
Life, Dream, Perseverance

If you can speak what you will never hear, if you can write what you will never read, you have done rare things.

Henry David Thoreau
Writing, Achievement, Done
Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.234, Xist Publishing

The press is, almost without exception, corrupt.

Henry David Thoreau
Journalism, Exception, Presses
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.308, Simon and Schuster

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 million to a poetic or divine life. To be awake is to be alive. I have never yet met a man who was quite awake. How could I have looked him in the face? We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.

Henry David Thoreau
Sleep, Men, Expectations
Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.142

If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen.

Henry David Thoreau
Nature, Science, Men
"Life Without Principle" (1863)

We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake.

Henry David Thoreau
Awake
Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.142

Let us not underrate the value of a fact; it will one day flower into a truth.

Henry David Thoreau
Truth, Flower, One Day
Henry David Thoreau (1999). “Uncommon Learning: Thoreau on Education”, p.96, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.

Henry David Thoreau
Lonely, Halloween, Fall
Henry David Thoreau, Laura Ross (2009). “Walden, Or, Life in the Woods: Bold-faced Ideas for Living a Truly Transcendent Life”, p.50, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly.

Henry David Thoreau
Nature, Healing, Quality
Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.15, Graphic Arts Books

Nothing can be more useful to a man than a determination not to be hurried.

Henry David Thoreau
Time, Determination
"Thoreau's Book of Quotations".

Undoubtedly, in the most brilliant successes, the first rank is always sacrificed.

Henry David Thoreau
Success, War, Firsts
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Selected Essays of Henry David Thoreau”, p.30, Simon and Schuster

A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us.

Henry David Thoreau
Rain, Blessed, Shade
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “Walden; Or, Life in the Woods”, p.203, Courier Corporation

We communicate like the burrows of foxes, in silence and darkness, under ground. We are undermined by faith and love.

Henry David Thoreau
Faith, Communication, Silence
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.1644, Delphi Classics

When a man truly commits, the universe will conspire to assure his success.

Henry David Thoreau
Men, Commit, Universe

They can do without architecture who have no olives nor wines in the cellar.

Henry David Thoreau
Wine, Literature, Olives
Henry David Thoreau (1995). “Walden, Or, Life in the Woods”, p.30, Courier Corporation

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.

Henry David Thoreau
Love, Respect, Appreciate
Henry David Thoreau (2006). “Thoreau and the Art of Life: Precepts and Principles”, p.27, Heron Dance Press

A friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them in us. The friend asks no return but that his friend will religiously accept and wear and not disgrace his apotheosis of him. They cherish each other's hopes. They are kind to each other's dreams.

Henry David Thoreau
Friendship, Dream, Kind
"Thoreau and the Art of Life: Precepts and Principles".

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?

Henry David Thoreau
Relationship, Kids, Eye
Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.19

The great art of life is how to turn the surplus life of the soul into life for the body.

Henry David Thoreau
Life, Art, Soul
Henry David Thoreau (2006). “Thoreau and the Art of Life: Precepts and Principles”, p.31, Heron Dance Press

It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.

Henry David Thoreau
Inspirational, Learning, Stubborn
Henry David Thoreau (1999). “Uncommon Learning: Thoreau on Education”, p.38, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Nay, be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought.

Henry David Thoreau
Change, Workout, Thoughtful
Henry David Thoreau, Laura Ross (2009). “Walden, Or, Life in the Woods: Bold-faced Ideas for Living a Truly Transcendent Life”, p.421, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends... Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.

Henry David Thoreau
Simple, Clothes, Simplicity
Henry David Thoreau (2009). “Walden”, p.212, Cosimo, Inc.

Morning glory is the best name, it always refreshes me to see it.

Henry David Thoreau
Morning, Names, Sunrise
Henry David Thoreau, John C. Broderick, Robert Sattelmeyer (1981). “Journal”, p.144, Princeton University Press

The silence sings. It is musical. I remember a night when it was audible. I heard the unspeakable.

Henry David Thoreau
Night, Silence, Musical
Henry David Thoreau, Horace Elisha Scudder, Harrison Gray Otis Blake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn (1898). “The writings of Henry David Thoreau”

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