Henry David Thoreau

The purity men love is like the mists which envelope the earth, and not like the azure ether beyond.

I would give all the wealth of the world, and all the deeds of all the heroes, for one true vision.

The only wealth is life.

To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, an they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.

I suppose you think that persons who are as old as your father and myself are always thinking about very grave things, but I know that we are meditating the same old themes that we did when we were ten years old, only we go more gravely about it.

I must walk toward Oregon, and not toward Europe. And that way the nation is moving, and I may say that mankind progress from east to west. We go eastward to realize history and study the works of art and literature, retracing the steps of the race; we go westward as into the future, with a spirit of enterprise and adventure.

How much of human life is lost in waiting.

Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.

I know myself as a human entity; the scene, so to speak, or thoughts are affection; and am sensible of certain doubleness by which I can stand as remote from myself as from another. However intense my experience, I am conscious of the presence and criticism of a part of me, which, as it were, is no part of me, but spectator, sharing no experience, but taking note of it, and that is no more I than it is you.

Anything too stupid to be said is sung.

Our humanity comes to its fullest bloom in giving. We become beautiful people when we give whatever we can give: a smile, a handshake, a kiss, an embrace, a word of love, a present, a part of our life…all of our life.

Beauty is the pilot of the young soul.

The secret in education lies in respecting the student.

Behave so the aroma of your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmosphere.

If someone betrays you once, it’s their fault; if they betray you twice, it’s your fault.

This gives force to the strong — that the multitude have no habit of self-reliance or original action.

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.

Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree. We are inclined to believe those whom we do not know because they have never deceived us.

He who has provoked the shaft of wit, cannot complain that he smarts from it.

Mountains will go into labour, and a silly little mouse will be born.

You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude.