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
great mankind poets works
The works of the great poets have never yet been read by mankind, for only great poets can read them
civilization distrust enterprise requires
We should distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes.
almost far staying travel worth
Far travel, very far travel, or travail, comes to almost the worth of staying home.
cost dinner pride
They take their pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost little
afford man number proportion rich
A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.
contend stupidity
Always you have to contend with the stupidity of men.
care men
There may be Gods, but they care not what men do
friend takes
A friend is one who takes me for what I am.
delicate graceful small
A pretty little graceful fellow, too small and delicate to be rapacious.
fool mind
Any fool can make a rule, and every fool will mind it
bankrupt begin character discuss seems soon universe
The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the character of individuals
almost exception lead money ways
The ways by which you may get money almost without exception lead downward.
bend force government instant itself living losing man recent single though transmit vitality
This American government -- what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will.
branches evil hacking striking thousands
There are thousands hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.