Henry David Thoreau Quotes

You must not know too much or be too precise or scientific about birds and trees and flowers and watercraft; a certain free-margin, and even vagueness - ignorance, credulity - helps your enjoyment of these things.

Henry David Thoreau

A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colors, or the heavens without their azure.

Henry David Thoreau

Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government.

Henry David Thoreau

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

Henry David Thoreau

Gardening is civil and social, but it wants the vigor and freedom of the forest and the outlaw.

Henry David Thoreau

There is an incessant influx of novelty into the world, and yet we tolerate incredible dullness.

Henry David Thoreau

There is no rule more invariable than that we are paid for our suspicions by finding what we suspect.

Henry David Thoreau

He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his souls estate.

Henry David Thoreau

A broad margin of leisure is as beautiful in a man's life as in a book.

Henry David Thoreau

Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.

Henry David Thoreau

Routine is a ground to stand on, a wall to retreat to; we cannot draw on our boots without bracing ourselves against it.

Henry David Thoreau

All good things are wild, and free.

Henry David Thoreau

If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. Men will believe what they see.

Henry David Thoreau

Glances of true beauty can be seen in the faces of those who live in true meekness.

Henry David Thoreau

Great men, unknown to their generation, have their fame among the great who have preceded them, and all true worldly fame subsides from their high estimate beyond the stars.

Henry David Thoreau