Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Henry David Thoreau  (1817-1862) American Essayist, Poet, Naturalist

These Henry David Thoreau quotes and sayings are from our famous and inspiring collection. A perfectly healthy sentence, it is true, is extremely rare. For the most part we miss the hue and fragrance of the thought; as if we could be satisfied with the dews of the morning or evening without their colours, or the heavens without their azure. - Henry David Thoreau


True friendship can afford true knowledge. It does not depend on darkness and ignorance. - Henry David Thoreau


We shall see but little way if we require to understand what we see. How few things can a man measure with the tape of his understanding! How many greater things might he be seeing in the meanwhile! - Henry David Thoreau


Friends will be much apart. They will respect more each other's privacy than their communion. - Henry David Thoreau


Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant? - Henry David Thoreau


The lawyer's truth is not Truth, but consistency or a consistent expediency. - Henry David Thoreau


Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. - Henry David Thoreau


It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look. To affect the quality of the day-that is the highest of arts. - Henry David Thoreau


Men talk about Bible miracles because there is no miracle in their lives. Cease to gnaw that crust. There is ripe fruit over your head. - Henry David Thoreau