Henry David Thoreau

I fear chiefly lest my expression may not be extravagant enough, may not wander far enough beyond the narrow limit of my daily experience, so as to be adequate to the truth of which I have been convinced. Extravagance! it depends on how you are yarded.

Goodness is the only investment which never fails.

To say that a man is your Friend, means commonly no more than this, that he is not your enemy. Most contemplate only what would be the accidental and trifling advantages of Friendship, as that the Friend can assist in time of need by his substance, or his influence, or his counsel. Even the utmost goodwill and harmony and practical kindness are not sufficient for Friendship, for Friends do not live in harmony merely, as some say, but in melody.

What old people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can. Old deeds for old people, and new deeds for new.

City life is millions of people being lonesome together.

It takes two to speak truth – one to speak, and another to hear.

By his father he is English, by his mother he is Americanto my mind the blend which makes the perfect man.

We must set up a strong present tense against all rumors of wrath, past and to come.

Why should I be unhappy? Every parcel of my being is in full bloom.

The only advantage of not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are.

Twenty to twenty-five! These are the years! Dont be content with things as they are. Dont take No for an answer. Never submit to failure. Do not be fobbed off with mere personal success or acceptance. You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true, and also fierce, you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her. She was made to be wooed and won by youth. She has lived and thrived only by repeated subjugations.

Of course, money will do after its kind, and will steadily work to unspiritualize and unchurch the people to whom it was bequeathed.

Those who would mend the world must first mend themselves.

His scorn of the great is repeated too often to be real; no man thinks much of that which he despises.

The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there.

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.

It seems to me that the god that is commonly worshipped in civilized countries is not at all divine, though he bears a divine name, but is the overwhelming authority and respectability of mankind combined. Men reverence one another, not yet God.

The city is recruited from the country.

The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.

Belief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief, in denying them.

It generally happens that assurance keeps an even pace with ability.