Henry David Thoreau Quotes about Integrity

Goodness is the only investment that never fails.

Goodness is the only investment that never fails.

Business, Integrity, Bad Day

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.133, Graphic Arts Books

It is not enough that we are truthful; we must cherish and carry out high purposes to be truthful about.

Henry David Thoreau

Truth, Integrity, Purpose

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.1140, Delphi Classics

Be not merely good. Be good for something.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Good Times, Be Good

The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the characters of individuals.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Character, Ethics

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.199, Delphi Classics

What is once well done is done forever.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Inspiration, Forever

Henry David Thoreau (1942). “Civil Disobedience”, p.10, Hayes Barton Press

We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke strops our vice.

Henry David Thoreau

Time, Integrity, Vices

Henry David Thoreau (1975). “Early Essays and Miscellanies”, p.224, Princeton University Press

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.

Henry David Thoreau

Inspirational, Cheating, Integrity

Henry David Thoreau, Barry Andrews (2005). “True Harvest: Readings from Henry David Thoreau for Every Day of the Year”, p.83, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

You need not rest your reputation on the dinners you give.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Giving, Needs

Henry David Thoreau (2009). “Walden”, p.92, Cosimo, Inc.

How sweet it would be to treat men and things, for an hour, for just what they are!

Henry David Thoreau

Sweet, Truth, Integrity

Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.361, Penguin

The laboring man has not leisure for a true integrity day by day.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Men, Leisure

Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.156, Penguin

It makes no odds where a man goes or stays, if he is only about his business.

Henry David Thoreau

Travel, Integrity, Men

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.197, Jazzybee Verlag

We have need to be as sturdy pioneers still as Miles Standish, or Church, or Lovewell. We are to follow on another trail, it is true, but one as convenient for ambushes. What if the Indians are exterminated, are not savages as grim prowling about the clearings today?

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Bravery, What If

Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.85, Xist Publishing

For a man to act himself, he must be perfectly free; otherwise he is in danger of losing all sense of responsibility or of self- respect.

Henry David Thoreau

Freedom, Integrity, Responsibility

Henry David Thoreau (1894). “The Writings of Henry David Thoreau: With Bibliographical Introductions and Full Indexes”

But perhaps a man is not required to bury himself.

Henry David Thoreau

Life, Integrity, Men

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.21, Simon and Schuster

To the man who cherishes a secret in his breast, there is a still greater secret unexplored. Our most indifferent acts may be a matter for secrecy, but whatever we do with the utmost truthfulness and integrity, by virtue of its pureness, must be transparent as light.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Men, Light

Henry David Thoreau (2016). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.222, Xist Publishing

A man cannot wheedle nor overawe his Genius. It requires to be conciliated by nobler conduct than the world demands or can appreciate.

Henry David Thoreau

Honesty, Integrity, Men

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.688, Simon and Schuster

I expect a time when, or rather an integrity by which, a man will get his coat as honestly and as perfectly fitting as a tree itsbark. Now our garments are typical of our conformity to the ways of the world, i.e., of the devil, and to some extent react on us and poison us, like that shirt which Hercules put on.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Men, Tree

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.179, Jazzybee Verlag

Every man should stand for a force which is perfectly irresistible.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Power, Men

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.133, Jazzybee Verlag

Some, it seems to me, elect their rulers for their crookedness. But I think that a straight stick makes the best cane, and an upright man the best ruler.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Men, Thinking

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.1225, Delphi Classics

Actually, the laboring man has not leisure for a true integrity day by day; he cannot afford to sustain the manliest relations tomen; his labor would be depreciated in the market. He has no time to be anything but a machine.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Men, Would Be

Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.12

What are men celebrating? They are all on a committee of arrangements, and hourly expect a speech from somebody. God is only the president of the day, and Webster is his orator.

Henry David Thoreau

God, Integrity, Men

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

Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. God will see that you do not want society.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Clothes, Want

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

Every nail driven should be as another rivet in the machine of the universe, you carrying on the work.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Nails, Machines

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.193, Graphic Arts Books

I am not afraid that I shall exaggerate the value and significance of life, but that I shall not be up to the occasion which it is.

Henry David Thoreau

Life, Integrity, Significance

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.142, Jazzybee Verlag

This American government - what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will.

Henry David Thoreau

Integrity, Men, Vitality

Henry David Thoreau (2015). “Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience: Top American Literary”, p.206, 谷月社