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Henry David Thoreau Quotes about Progress

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When any real progress is made, we unlearned and learn anew what we thought we knew before.

When any real progress is made, we unlearned and learn anew what we thought we knew before.

Henry David Thoreau
Real, Progress, Made
Henry David Thoreau (1999). “Uncommon Learning: Thoreau on Education”, p.41, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The nonchalance and dolce-far-niente air of nature and society hint at infinite periods in the progress of mankind.

Henry David Thoreau
Nature, Air, Progress
Henry David Thoreau (1873). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.137

If we see nature as pausing, immediately all mortifies and decays; but seen as progressing, she is beautiful.

Henry David Thoreau
Beautiful, Nature, Progress
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.2120, Delphi Classics

Let us consider under what disadvantages Science has hitherto labored before we pronounce thus confidently on her progress.

Henry David Thoreau
Science, Progress, Disadvantages
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.236, Simon and Schuster

How little do the most wonderful inventions of modern times detain us. They insult nature. Every machine, or particular application, seems a slight outrage against universal laws.

Henry David Thoreau
Nature, Law, Progress
Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.236, Simon and Schuster

It is not so important that many should be good as you, as that there be some absolute goodness somewhere; for that will leaven the whole lump.

Henry David Thoreau
Progress, Important, Reform
Henry David Thoreau (1942). “Civil Disobedience”, p.6, Hayes Barton Press

In a thousand apparently humble ways men busy themselves to make some right take the place of some wrong,--if it is only to make abetter paste blacking,--and they are themselves so much the better morally for it.

Henry David Thoreau
Humble, Men, Progress
Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1865). “Letters to Various Persons”, p.100

If we live in the Nineteenth Century, why should we not enjoy the advantages which the Nineteenth Century offers? Why should our life be in any respect provincial?

Henry David Thoreau
Respect, Progress, Culture
Henry David Thoreau (1995). “Walden, Or, Life in the Woods”, p.71, Courier Corporation

Instead of the scream of a fish hawk scaring the fishes, is heard the whistle of the steam-engine, arousing a country to its progress.

Henry David Thoreau
Country, Fishing, Progress
Henry David Thoreau (2000). “Walden and Other Writings: (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.367, Modern Library

We are accustomed to say, that the mass of men are unprepared; but improvement is slow, because the few are not materially wiser or better than the many.

Henry David Thoreau
Men, Progress, Reform
Henry David Thoreau (1942). “Civil Disobedience”, p.6, Hayes Barton Press

The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual.

Henry David Thoreau
Government, Democracy, Progress
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.88, Penguin

I had often stood on the banks of the Concord, watching the lapse of the current, an emblem of all progress, following the same law with the system, with time, and all that is madeand at last I resolved to launch myself on its bosom and float whither it would bear me.

Henry David Thoreau
Travel, Law, Progress

Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable but positive hindrances to our progress. Our life is frittered away by detail. I say let your affairs be as two or three, not a hundred or a thousand. And keep your accounts on your thumb nail.

Henry David Thoreau
Two, Luxury, Progress

There is no history of how bad became better.

Henry David Thoreau
History, Progress, Reform
Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.357, Penguin

As with our colleges, so with a hundred "modern improvements"; there is an illusion about them; there is not always a positive advance. The devil goes on exacting a compound interest to the last for his early share and numerous succeeding investments in them.

Henry David Thoreau
Education, College, Progress
Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.84

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