Henry David Thoreau

Many of the phenomena of Winter are suggestive of an inexpressible tenderness and fragile delicacy. We are accustomed to hear this king described as a rude and boisterous tyrant; but with the gentleness of a lover he adorns the tresses of Summer.

There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself.

Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.

The laboring man has not leisure for a true integrity day by day.

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.

To read well, that is, to read true books in a true spirit, is a noble exercise, and one that will task the reader more than any other exercise which the customs of the day esteem. It requires a training such as the athletes underwent, the steady intention almost of the whole life to this object.

What I mean is you make the world less ugly just by living in it.

It is an interesting question how far men would retain their relative rank if they were divested of their clothes.

Eat therefore to live, and do not live to eat.

No poems can please for long or live that are written by water-drinkers.

For most men, and most circumstances, pleasure –tangible material prosperity in this world -is the safest test of virtue. Progress has ever been through the pleasures rather than through the extreme sharp virtues, and the most virtuous have leaned to excess rather than to asceticism.

To act from pure benevolence is not possible for finite human beings, Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.

Our planet is being turned into a filthy and evil-smelling imperialist barrack.

A lawyers dream of heaven; every man reclaimed his property at the resurrection, and each tried to recover it from all his forefathers.

I will never do this, says one, yet does it: I am resolved to do this, says another; but flags upon second Thoughts: Or does it, tho’ awkwardly, for his Word’s sake: As if it were worse to break his Word, than to do amiss in keeping it.

There is a tendency for things to right themselves.

Stand upright, speak thy thoughts, declare The truth thou hast, that all may share; Be bold, proclaim it everywhere: They only live who dare.

Anything too stupid to be said is sung.

The moment we indulge our affections, the earth is metamorphosed, there is no winter and no night; all tragedies, all ennui s, vanish, all duties even.

The world is like a grand staircase, some are going up and some are going down.

Martyrdom is the only way a man can become famous without ability.