Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreauwas an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian. A leading transcendentalist, Thoreau is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay Resistance to Civil Government, an argument for disobedience to an unjust state...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAuthor
Date of Birth12 July 1817
CountryUnited States of America
actual choose difficult direct direction exist fain ideal interior liable love magnetism path perfectly stupidity taken travel wrong yield
I belive that there is a subtile magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. It is not indifferent to us which way we walk. There is a right way; but we are very liable from heedlessness and stupidity to take the wrong one. We would fain take that walk, never yet taken by us through this actual world, which is perfectly symbolical of the path which we love to travel in the interior and ideal world; and sometimes, no doubt, we find it difficult to choose our direction, because it does not yet exist distinctly in our idea.
contend stupidity
Always you have to contend with the stupidity of men.
safety stupidity ifs
As if there were safety in stupidity alone
cute-love love remedy sweet-love
There is no remedy for love than to love more.
difference drinking eating mere strength
There is a difference between eating and drinking for strength and for mere gluttony.
light science
With all your science can you tell how it is, and whence it is, that Light comes into the soul?
edit women
To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit it and read it are old women over their tea.
affect highest quality
To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of the arts.
affect critical elevated highest man quality worthy
To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts. Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour.
born inherit property rather
To inherit property is not to be born - is to be stillborn, rather
beware clothes require
Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.
beware caution clothes require
Beware of all enterprises that require a new set of clothes.
follows generation laughs
Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but religiously follows the new.
conforming conformity high life living opinion
As to conforming outwardly, and living your own life inwardly, I have not a very high opinion of that course.