Henry David Thoreau Quotes about Independence

All good things are wild and free.

Henry David Thoreau

I Hate You, Independence, Liberty

Henry David Thoreau (2010). “Wild Apples and Other Natural History Essays”, p.82, University of Georgia Press

Genius is not a retainer to any emperor.

Henry David Thoreau

Independence, Genius, Emperor

Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walden”, p.54, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

All great enterprises are self-supporting.

Henry David Thoreau

Self, Independence, Enterprise

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Quotable Thoreau: An A to Z Glossary of Inspiring Quotations from Henry David Thoreau”, p.87, BookBaby

I delight to come to my bearings,... not to live in this restless, nervous, bustling, trivial Nineteenth Century, but stand or sitthoughtfully while it goes by.

Henry David Thoreau

Independence, Delight, Nervous

Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walden”, p.276, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The thoughtful man becomes a hermit in the thoroughfares of the marketplace.

Henry David Thoreau

Thoughtful, Men, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Miscellanies (Annotated Edition)”, p.124, Jazzybee Verlag

The Indian's intercourse with Nature is at least such as admits of the greatest independence of each.

Henry David Thoreau

Native American, Independence, Intercourse

Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.39, Xist Publishing

It is remarkable that there are few men so well employed, so much to their minds, but that a little money or fame would commonly buy them off from their present pursuit.

Henry David Thoreau

Money, Men, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.416, Penguin

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

Suicide, Ties, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.221, Jazzybee Verlag

I am not responsible for the successful working of the machinery of society.

Henry David Thoreau

Responsibility, Successful, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.83, Penguin

To act collectively is according to the spirit of our institutions.

Henry David Thoreau

Independence, Spirit, Action

Henry David Thoreau, David Gross (2007). “The Price of Freedom: Political Philosophy from Thoreau's Journals”, p.100, David M Gross

The newspapers are the ruling power. Any other government is reduced to a few marines at Fort Independence. If a man neglects to read the Daily Times, government will go down on its knees to him, for this is the only treason these days.

Henry David Thoreau

Marine, Men, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (1992). “The Essays of Henry David Thoreau”, p.89, Rowman & Littlefield

To speak impartially, the best men that I know are not serene, a world in themselves. For the most part, they dwell in forms, andflatter and study effect only more finely than the rest.

Henry David Thoreau

Men, Hypocrisy, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.221, Graphic Arts Books

Wherever a man separates from the multitude, and goes his own way in this mood, there indeed is a fork in the road, though ordinary travelers may see only a gap in the paling. His solitary path across lots will turn out the higher way of the two.

Henry David Thoreau

Men, Two, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.419, Penguin

Individuals, like nations, must have suitable broad and natural boundaries, even a considerable neutral ground, between them.

Henry David Thoreau

Solitude, Independence, Boundaries

Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.219

I foresee the time when the painter will paint that scene, no longer going to Rome for a subject; the poet will sing it; the historian record it; and, with the Landing of the Pilgrims and the Declaration of Independence, it will be the ornament of some future national gallery, when at least the present form of slavery shall be no more here. We shall then be at liberty to weep for Captain Brown. Then, and not till then, we will take our revenge.

Henry David Thoreau

Revenge, Rome, Independence

Henry David Thoreau (2007). “My Thoughts Are Murder to the State: Thoreau's Essays on Political Philosophy”, p.57, David M Gross

What have I to do with plows? I cut another furrow than you see.

Henry David Thoreau

Cutting, Independence, Conformity

Henry David Thoreau (2000). “Walden and Other Writings: (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.356, Modern Library

Men spend the best parts of their lives earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of it.

Henry David Thoreau

Men, Order, Independence

They who assert the purest right, and consequently are most dangerous to a corrupt State, commonly have not spent much time accumulating property. The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, the more money, the less virtue; for money comes between a man and his objects, and obtains them for him; and it was certainly no great virtue to obtain it.

Henry David Thoreau

Men, Independence, Rich