Henry David Thoreau

Absolutely speaking, Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you is by no means a golden rule, but the best of current silver. An honest man would have but little occasion for it. It is golden not to have any rule at all in such a case.

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for law, so much as a respect for right.

We have not so good a right to hate any as our Friend.

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet, drink, and botanical medicines.

I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board.

Our manners have been corrupted by communication with the saints.

To be, or not to be; that is the bare bodkin That makes calamity of so long life;

I think there’s a great beauty to having problems. That’s one of the ways we learn.

Talk about slavery! It is not the peculiar institution of the South. It exists wherever men are bought and sold, wherever a man allows himself to be made a mere thing or a tool, and surrenders his inalienable rights of reason and conscience. Indeed, this slavery is more complete than that which enslaves the body alone… I never yet met with, or heard of, a judge who was not a slave of this kind, and so the finest and most unfailing weapon of injustice. He fetches a slightly higher price than the black men only because he is a more valuable slave.

Success must include two things: the development of an individual to his utmost potentiality and a contribution of some kind to one’s world.

Liberty is slow fruit. It is never cheap; it is made difficult because freedom is the accomplishment and perfectness of man.

Hegel was right when he said that we learn from history that man can never learn anything from history.

I will not say do not weep, for not all tears are evil.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

Far too many executives have become more concerned with the four P’s – pay, perks, power and prestige – rather than making profits for shareholders.

A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

Have good trust in yourself … not in the One that you think you should be, but in the One that you are.

Croesus said to Cambyses; That peace was better than war; because in peace the sons did bury their fathers, but in wars the fathers did bury their sons.

Let us try what love will do.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.

Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.