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Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Biography

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher, best known for his book "Walden" (1854), a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. Thoreau’s "Civil Disobedience" (1849) also remains a seminal work, advocating nonviolent resistance to unjust laws. He was a key figure in the Transcendentalist movement, closely associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson. more Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher, best known for his book "Walden" (1854), a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. Thoreau’s "Civil Disobedience" (1849) also remains a seminal work, advocating nonviolent resistance to unjust laws. He was a key figure in the Transcendentalist movement, closely associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson. In 1845, Thoreau began his two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond, which provided the material for "Walden." He also meticulously recorded natural phenomena, contributing to early environmental science. Thoreau’s writings continue to inspire advocates of environmentalism and civil liberties. less

Popular Quotes

"There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted"
Tags: Ethics, Integrity, Morality, Virtue, Goodness
"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone"
Tags: Contentment, Wealth, Simplicity, Minimalism, Self-sufficiency
"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind"
Tags: Simplicity, Minimalism, Materialism, Mankind, Elevation
"Truths and roses have thorns about them"
Tags: Wisdom, Life lessons, Truth, Nature, Beauty
"The man who moves confidently in the direction of his dreams will meet with a success unexpected in common hours"
Tags: Motivation, Personal growth, Inspiration, Self-improvement, Success
"Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for love of it "
Tags: Motivation, Passion, Integrity, Dedication, Commitment
"Nothing goes by luck in composition. It allows of no tricks "
Tags: Creativity, Authenticity, Art, Discipline, Effort
"We need the tonic of wildness "
Tags: Freedom, Nature, Adventure, Exploration, Outdoors
"Our moments of inspiration are not lost though we have no particular poem to show for them "
Tags: Inspiration, Philosophy, Creativity, Expression, Imagination
"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after "
Tags: Philosophy, Mindfulness, Reflection, Introspection, Purpose
"Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake "
Tags: Inspiration, Mindfulness, Self-discovery, Inner peace, Dreams
"I make myself rich by making my wants few "
Tags: Philosophy, Wisdom, Happiness, Contentment, Gratitude
"It's the culmination of a lifetime’s worth of reflection that we can derive value from "
Tags: Personal growth, Wisdom, Reflection, Introspection, Experience
"Not only must we be good, but we must also be good for something "
Tags: Ethics, Responsibility, Purpose, Morality, Virtue
"What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on "
Tags: Responsibility, Environment, Sustainability, Home, Earth
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