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Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Philosopher

Henry David Thoreau was an American transcendentalist philosopher, naturalist, and writer best known for his reflections on simple living, self-reliance, and the connection between humans and nature. His works, particularly *Walden*, advocate for a life of independence and mindful contemplation, urging individuals to resist societal pressures and live authentically. The following quotes reflect Thoreau’s profound insights on nature, personal freedom, and the pursuit of a meaningful, intentional life.
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It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?
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Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it was already but too easy to arrive at; as railroads lead to Boston or New York. We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
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What sort of philosophers are we, who know absolutely nothing of the origin and destiny of cats?
From Thoreau Journal 9
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If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
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All men want, not something to do with, but something to do, or rather something to be.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
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Men are born to succeed, not to fail.
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I silently smiled at my incessant good fortune.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
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On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend's life also, in our own, to the world.
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What is called genius is the abundance of life and health.
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Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.
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Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
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If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.
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Talk of mysteries! — Think of our life in nature, — daily to be shown matter, to come in contact with it, — rocks, trees, wind on our cheeks! The solid earth! The actual world! The common sense! Contact! Contact! Who are we? Where are we?
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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 richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
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It is not worth the while to let our imperfections disturb us always.
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If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.
From I to Myself: An Annotated Selection from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau
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It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it was already but too easy to arrive at; as railroads lead to Boston or New York. We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
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What sort of philosophers are we, who know absolutely nothing of the origin and destiny of cats?
From Thoreau Journal 9
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If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
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All men want, not something to do with, but something to do, or rather something to be.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Men are born to succeed, not to fail.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
I silently smiled at my incessant good fortune.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend's life also, in our own, to the world.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
What is called genius is the abundance of life and health.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Talk of mysteries! — Think of our life in nature, — daily to be shown matter, to come in contact with it, — rocks, trees, wind on our cheeks! The solid earth! The actual world! The common sense! Contact! Contact! Who are we? Where are we?
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
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 richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It is not worth the while to let our imperfections disturb us always.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.
From I to Myself: An Annotated Selection from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it was already but too easy to arrive at; as railroads lead to Boston or New York. We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
What sort of philosophers are we, who know absolutely nothing of the origin and destiny of cats?
From Thoreau Journal 9
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
All men want, not something to do with, but something to do, or rather something to be.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Men are born to succeed, not to fail.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
I silently smiled at my incessant good fortune.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
On the death of a friend, we should consider that the fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living, that we have henceforth to fulfill the promise of our friend's life also, in our own, to the world.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
What is called genius is the abundance of life and health.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
Talk of mysteries! — Think of our life in nature, — daily to be shown matter, to come in contact with it, — rocks, trees, wind on our cheeks! The solid earth! The actual world! The common sense! Contact! Contact! Who are we? Where are we?
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
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 richest. The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace.
From Walden or, Life in the Woods
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
It is not worth the while to let our imperfections disturb us always.
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.
From I to Myself: An Annotated Selection from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau
Avg Rating: --Rate This Quote
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