Henry David Thoreau

Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience.

We hate the kindness which we understand.

If misery loves company, misery has company enough.

However intense my experience, I am conscious of the presence and criticism of a part of me, which, as it were, is not a part of me, but a spectator, sharing no experience, but taking note of it, and that is no more I than it is you. When the play, it may be the tragedy, of life is over, the spectator goes his way. It was a kind of fiction, a work of the imagination only, so far as he was concerned.

Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous. If men would steadily observe realities only, and not allow themselves to be deluded, life … would be like a fairy tale and the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments.

We live thick and are in each other’s way, and stumble over one another, and I think we thus lose some respect for one another.

Whenever you wish to do anything against the law, Cicely, always consult a good solicitor first.

Courage is rightly considered the foremost of the virtues, for upon it, all others depend.

The artists must be sacrificed to their art. Like the bees, they must put their lives into the sting they give.

The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees is the high road that leads him to England.

I hate women because they always know where things are.

Ignorant people think it is the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain’t so; it is the sickening grammar that they use.

Humor must not professedly teach and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever.

Every old poem is sacred.

You. too, can determine what you want. You can decide on your major objectives, targets, aims, and destination.

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council though good in execution.

To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.

A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs. He who can pronounce my name aright, he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service.

Friends are thieves of time.

When the eagles are silent the parrots begin to jabber.

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study.