Henry David Thoreau Quotations: OBSERVATIONS
In the midst of a gentle rain while these thoughts prevailed, I was suddenly sensible of such sweet and beneficent society in Nature, in the very pattering of the drops, and in every sound and sight around my house, an infinite and unaccountable friendliness all at once like an atmosphere sustaining me, as made the fancied advantages of human neighborhood insignificant, and I have never thought of them since.—Walden
In what book is this world and its beauty described?—Journal, 4 October 1859
Indians like to get along with the least possible communication and ado.—The Maine Woods
Instead of the white lily, which requires mud, or the common sweet flag, the blue flag (Iris versicolor) grows thinly in the pure water, rising from the stony bottom all around the shore, where it is visited by hummingbirds in June . . .—Walden
Is not the attitude of expectation somewhat divine?—a sort of home-made divineness?—Thoreau to H.G.O. Blake, 28 May 1850
It is a common saying among country people that if you eat much fried hasty pudding it will make your hair curl. My experience, which was considerable, did not confirm this assertion.—Journal, 20 November 1850
It is folly to attempt to educate children within a city. The first step must be to remove them out of it.—Journal, 25 July 1851
It is a thorough process, this war with the wilderness—breaking nature, taming the soil, feeding it on oats. The civilized man regards the pine tree as his enemy. He will fell it and let in the light, grub it up and raise wheat or rye there. It is no better than a fungus to him.—Journal, 2 February 1852
It is astonishing how far a merely well-dressed and good-looking man may go without being challenged by any sentinel.—Journal, 3 January 1856
It is chiefly the spring birds that I hear at this hour, and in each dawn the spring is thus revived.—Journal, 4 July 1852
