Henry David Thoreau Quotations: LIFE
If a man is rich and strong anywhere, it must be on his native soil. Here I have been these forty years learning the language of these fields that I may the better express myself. If I should travel to the prairies, I should much less understand them, and my past life would serve me but ill to describe them.—Journal, 20 November 1857
If any ever went away disappointed or hungry from my house when they found me at home, they may depend upon it that I sympathized with them at least.—Walden
If any part of nature excites our pity, it is for ourselves we grieve, for there is eternal health and beauty. We get only transient and partial glimpses of the beauty of the world.—Journal, 11 December 1855
If I shall sell both my forenoons and afternoons to society, as most appear to do, I am sure that for me there would be nothing left worth living for. I trust that I shall never thus sell my birthright for a mess of pottage.—"Life Without Principle"
If it were not for death and funerals I think the institution of the Church would not stand longer.—Journal, 16 November 1851
If men were to be destroyed and the books they have written were to be transmitted to a new race of creatures, in a new world, what kind of record would be found in them of so remarkable a phenomenon as the rainbow?—Journal, 13 March 1859
If one hesitates in his path, let him not proceed. Let him respect his doubts, for doubts, too, may have some divinity in them.—Thoreau to H.G.O. Blake, 27 March 1848
If rivers come out of their icy prison thus bright and immortal, shall not I too resume my spring life with joy and hope?—Journal, 29 February 1852
If we can forget, we have done somewhat; if we can remember, we have done somewhat. Let us remember this.—Journal, 7 July 1845
Ignorance and bungling with love are better than wisdom and skill without.—A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
