Henry David Thoreau Quotations: HUMANKIND
If it is possible to conceive of an event outside to humanity, it is not of the slightest significance, though it were the explosion of a planet.—Journal, 6 May 1854
If you wish to give a man a sense of poverty, give him a thousand dollars. The next hundred dollars he gets will not be worth more than ten that he used to get. Have pity on him; withhold your gifts.—Journal, 20 January 1856
In all important crises one can only consult his genius.—Journal, 27 December 1858
In dreams we see ourselves naked and acting out our real characters, even more clearly than we see others awake.—A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
In our science and philosophy, even, there is commonly no true and absolute account of things. The spirit of sect and bigotry has planted its hoof amid the stars. You have only to discuss the problem, whether the stars are inhabited or not, in order to discover it.—"Life Without Principle"
It is for want of a man that there are so many men.—"Life Without Principle"
It is possible for a man wholly to disappear and be merged in his manners.—Journal, 21 July 1851
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 with science as with ethics,—we cannot know truth by contrivance and method; the Baconian is as false as any other, and with all the helps of machinery and the arts, the most scientific will still be the healthiest and friendliest man, and possess a more perfect Indian wisdom.—"Natural History of Massachusetts"
It seems to be a law that you cannot have a deep sympathy with both man and nature.—Journal, 11 April 1852
