3,409 Quotes by Henry David Thoreau

I have myself to respect, but to myself I am not amiable; but my friend is my amiableness personified.

Sometimes we are inclined to class those who are once-and-a-half witted with the half-witted, because we appreciate only a third part of their wit.

Faint heart never won true friend. O my friend, may it come to pass, once, that when you are my friend I may be yours.

If we dealt only with the false and dishonest, we should at last forget how to speak truth.

I desire that there be as many different persons in the world as possible; I would have each one be very careful to find out and preserve his own way.

Yet some can be patriotic who have no self-respect, and sacrifice the greater to the less. They love the soil which makes their graves, but have no sympathy with the spirit which may still animate their clay. Patriotism is a maggot in their heads.

One revelation has been made to the Indian, another to the white man.

But government in which the majority rule in all cases can not be based on justice, even as far as men understand it.

A simple and independent mind does not toil at the bidding of any prince.