Henry David Thoreau Quotes

If misery loves company, misery has company enough.
Henry David Thoreau

Enough, Company, Misery

All this worldly wisdom was once the unamiable heresy of some wise man.
Henry David Thoreau

Wisdom, Wise, Once

I am sorry to think that you do not get a man's most effective criticism until you provoke him. Severe truth is expressed with some bitterness.
Henry David Thoreau

Truth, Sorry, Him

Every man casts a shadow; not his body only, but his imperfectly mingled spirit. This is his grief. Let him turn which way he will, it falls opposite to the sun; short at noon, long at eve. Did you never see it?
Henry David Thoreau

There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself.
Henry David Thoreau

Life, Happiness, Yourself

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
Henry David Thoreau

Life, Fact, Ability

Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.
Henry David Thoreau

Nature, Genius, Hand

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.
Henry David Thoreau

Imagination, Life, Dreams

All men are children, and of one family. The same tale sends them all to bed, and wakes them in the morning.
Henry David Thoreau

Family, Men, Morning

A broad margin of leisure is as beautiful in a man's life as in a book. Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping. Keep the time, observe the hours of the universe, not of the cars.
Henry David Thoreau

Life, Time, Beautiful

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.
Henry David Thoreau

Men, Lives, Quiet

To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.
Henry David Thoreau

Life, Quality, Highest

The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.
Henry David Thoreau

Alone, Today, Wait

Distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes.
Henry David Thoreau

Distrust, Clothes, Enterprise

In wilderness is the preservation of the world.
Henry David Thoreau

Nothing makes the earth seem so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau

Nothing, Friends, Makes

How does it become a man to behave towards the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it.
Henry David Thoreau

Government, Today, Cannot

As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.
Henry David Thoreau

Time, Eternity, Injuring

Through our own recovered innocence we discern the innocence of our neighbors.
Henry David Thoreau

Through, Innocence, Neighbors

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
Henry David Thoreau

Love, Path, Walk

There are old heads in the world who cannot help me by their example or advice to live worthily and satisfactorily to myself; but I believe that it is in my power to elevate myself this very hour above the common level of my life.
Henry David Thoreau

Life, Power, Live

I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers. A man thinking or working is always alone, let him be where he will.
Henry David Thoreau

Alone, Men, Lonely

Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.
Henry David Thoreau

Fool, Mind, Rule

Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.
Henry David Thoreau

Life, Away, Simplify

Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.
Henry David Thoreau

Unless, Planning

Share with your Friends

Everyone likes a good quote - don't forget to share.

Biography

Nationality: American

Type: Author

Born: July 12, 1817

Died: May 6, 1862

Links

Find on Amazon: Henry David Thoreau

Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics

Friendship Quotes

Motivational Quotes

Inspirational Quotes

Related Authors

Mark Twain
Helen Keller
Zig Ziglar
Joseph Campbell
Tony Robbins
Leo Buscaglia
Anais Nin
More

Get Social with BrainyQuote

BrainyQuote Desktop

BrainyQuote Mobile

Site

Quote of the Day

Social

BQ on Pinterest

Syndication

Funny Quote Feed

Love Quote Feed

Nature Quote Feed

About Us