3,409 Quotes by Henry David Thoreau

Above all, we cannot afford not to live in the present. He is blessed over all mortals who loses no moment of the passing life in remembering the past.

There is no such thing as accomplishing a righteous reform by the use of 'expediency.' There is no such thing as sliding up hill. In morals, the only sliders are backsliders.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men. When the majority shall at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will then be the only slaves.

I will come to you, my friend, when I no longer need you. Then you will find a palace, not an almshouse.

ليس كافيًا أن تكون مشغولًا. فكذلك النمل. السؤال هو: بماذا نحن مشغولون ؟

It is never too late to give up your prejudices

Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.” [Letter to Harrison Blake; November 16, 1857]

I would remind my countrymen that they are to be men first, and Americans only at a late and convenient hour.