The mass never comes up to the standard of its best member, but on the contrary degrades itself to a level with the lowest.
Henry David Thoreau
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.
Henry David Thoreau
Friendship Quotes
What is a country without rabbits and partridges? They are among the most simple and indigenous animal products; ancient and venerable families known to antiquity as to modern times; of the very hue and substance of Nature, nearest allied to leaves and to the ground.
Henry David Thoreau
That virtue we appreciate is as much ours as another s. We see so much only as we possess.
Henry David Thoreau
A thoroughbred business man cannot enter heartily upon the business of life without first looking into his accounts.
Henry David Thoreau
Between whom there is hearty truth, there is love.
Henry David Thoreau
Love Quotes
Nations! What are nations? Tartars! and Huns! and Chinamen! Like insects they swarm. The historian strives in vain to make them memorable. It is for want of a man that there are so many men. It is individuals that populate the world.
Henry David Thoreau
I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
Henry David Thoreau
I believe that what so saddens the reformer is not his sympathy with his fellows in distress, but, though he be the holiest son of God, is his private ail. Let this be righted, let the spring come to him, the morning rise over his couch, and he will forsake his generous companions without apology.
Henry David Thoreau
The law will never make men free, it is men that have to make the law free.
Henry David Thoreau
Men have become the tools of their tools.
Henry David Thoreau
He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate.
Henry David Thoreau
We were born to succeed, not to fail.
Henry David Thoreau
Things do not change, we do.
Henry David Thoreau
Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but religiously follows the new.
Henry David Thoreau
It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.