Henry David Thoreau

In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference.

It will be Grass-ground River as long as grass grows and water runs here; it will be Concord River only while men lead peaceable lives on its banks.

A little thought is sexton to all the world.

It is never too late to give up our prejudices.

It is a solemn, stately, ruminant fish, lurking under the shadow of a pad at noon, with still, circumspect, voracious eye, motionless as a jewel set in water, or moving slowly along to take up its position, darting from time to time at such unlucky fish or frog or insect as comes within its range, and swallowing it at a gulp.

It was solitude with light; which is better than darkness.

It is true, I never assisted the sun materially in his rising, but, doubt not, it was of the last importance only to be present at it.

It gets laughed at because it is a small town, I know, but nevertheless it is a place where great men may be born any day, for fair winds and foul blow right on over it without distinction.

He runs as though there were not a bone in his back.

To get his shoestrings he speculates in herds of cattle.

You can hardly convince a man of an error in a lifetime, but must content yourself with the reflection that the progress of science is slow. If he is not convinced, his grandchildren may be.

A healthy man, indeed, is the complement of the seasons, and in winter, summer is in his heart.

I have learned that the swiftest traveller is he that goes afoot.

Really, there is no infidelity, nowadays, so great as that which prays, and keeps the Sabbath, and rebuilds the churches.

The true reformer does not want time, nor money, nor cooperation, nor advice.

Rescue the drowning and tie your shoestrings.

Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.

It is astonishing to how few thoughts so many sincere efforts give utterance.

Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me. Moral reform is the effort to throw off sleep.

Fortunately we had no business in this country.