Henry David Thoreau

A man sits as many risks as he runs.

The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens. Others

The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.

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.

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.

Associate reverently, as much as you can, with your loftiest thoughts.

Men over forty are no judges of a book written in a new spirit.

The death of a dear friend, wife, brother, lover, which seemed nothing but privation, somewhat later assumes the aspect of a guide or genius; for it commonly operates revolutions in our way of life, terminates an epoch of infancy or of youth which was waiting to be closed, breaks up a wonted occupation, or a household, or style of living, and allows the formation of new ones more friendly to the growth of character.

Through our own recovered innocence we discern the innocence of our neighbors.

Half a man’s wisdom goes with his courage.

When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not.

Men are born to succeed, not to fail.

It is by the goodness of God that we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.

I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the inertia and give elasticity to the muscles. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give it tension or relaxation; and surely it is possible to bring it into a state in which rising from bed will not be a pain.

I like to be beholden to the great metropolitan English speech, the sea which receives tributaries from every region under heaven.

Why is it that we rejoice at a birth and grieve at a funeral? It is because we are not the person involved.

We do not count a man’s years until he has nothing else to count.

Neither irony or sarcasm is argument.

Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

Can anybody remember when the times were not hard, and money not scarce?

Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper.