Henry David Thoreau Quotations: ECONOMY
In my experience I have found nothing so truly impoverishing as what is called wealth, i.e. the command of greater means than you had before possessed, though comparatively few and slight still, for you thus inevitably acquire a more expensive habit of living, and even the very same necessaries and comforts cost you more than they once did. Instead of gaining, you have lost some independence, and if your income should be suddenly lessened, you would find yourself poor, though possessed of the same means which once made you rich.—Journal, 20 January 1856
In short, I am convinced, both by faith and experience, that to maintain one’s self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime, if we will live simply and wisely; as the pursuits of the simpler nations are still the sports of the more artificial. It is not necessary that a man should earn his living by the sweat of his brow, unless he sweats more easier than I do.—Walden
Incessant labor with my hands, at first, for I had my house to finish and my beans to hoe at the same time, made more study impossible.—Walden
It is a labor to task the faculties of a man—such problems of profit and loss, of interest, of tare and tret, and gauging of all kinds in it, as demand a universal knowledge.—Walden
It is a thorough process, this war with the wilderness—breaking nature, taming the soil, feeding it on oats. The civilized man regards the pine tree as his enemy. He will fell it and let in the light, grub it up and raise wheat or rye there. It is no better than a fungus to him.—Journal, 2 February 1852
It is glorious to consider how independent man is of all enervating luxuries; and the poorer he is in respect to them, the richer he is.—Journal, 22 November 1860
It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?—Thoreau to H.G.O. Blake, 16 November 1857
It is the greatest of all advantages to enjoy no advantage at all. I find it invariably true, the poorer I am, the richer I am. What you consider my disadvantage, I consider my advantage.—Journal, 5 December 1856
It is thought Utopian to propose spending money for things which more intelligent men know to be of far more worth.—Walden
It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.—"Life Without Principle"
