Henry David Thoreau

United States
12 Jul 1817 // 6 May 1862
Writer / Author / Poet

Quotes

<< Prev Next >>

What right have I to grieve, who have not ceased to wonder?
The mass never comes up to the standard of its best members, but on the contrary degrades itself to a level with the lowest
All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every second
Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something
It is an interesting question how far men would retain their relative rank if they were divested of their clothes
Those whom we can love, we can hate; to others we are indifferent
However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are the richest
Staying in the house breeds a sort of insanity always. Every house is, in this sense, a hospital
Friends... They are kind to each other's hopes. They cherish each other's dreams
There is no more fatal blunderer than he who consumes the greater part of his life getting his living
<< Prev Next >>
Search

 

On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays