Henry David Thoreau Quotations: Living Life
If one hesitates in his path, let him not proceed. Let him respect his doubts, for doubts, too, may have some divinity in them.—Thoreau to H.G.O. Blake, 27 March 1848
If rivers come out of their icy prison thus bright and immortal, shall not I too resume my spring life with joy and hope?—Journal, 29 February 1852
In the midst of a gentle rain while these thoughts prevailed, I was suddenly sensible of such sweet and beneficent society in Nature, in the very pattering of the drops, and in every sound and sight around my house, an infinite and unaccountable friendliness all at once like an atmosphere sustaining me, as made the fancied advantages of human neighborhood insignificant, and I have never thought of them since.—Walden
It is a momentous fact that a man may be good, or he may be bad; his life may be true, or it may be false; it may be either a shame or a glory to him. The good man builds himself up; the bad man destroys himself. But whatever we do we must do confidently (if we are timid, let us, then, act timidly), not expecting more light, but having light enough. If we confidently expect more, then let us wait for it.—Thoreau to H.G.O. Blake, 2 May 1848
It makes no odds into what seeming deserts the poet is born. Though all his neighbors pronounce it a Sahara, it will be a paradise to him; for the desert which we see is the result of the barrenness of our experience.—Journal, 6 May 1854
It may be translated into every language, and not only be read but actually breathed from human lips;—not be represented on canvas and marble only, but be carved out of the breath of life itself.—Walden
Let us spend one day as deliberately as Nature, and not be thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquito's wing that falls on the rails.—Walden
Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.—Journal, 23 August 1853
Music is the sound of the circulation in nature's veins. It is the flux which melts nature.—Journal, 24 April 1841
My actual life is a fact, in view of which I have no occasion to congratulate myself; but for my faith and aspiration I have respect. It is from these that I speak. Every man's position is in fact too simple to be described.—Thoreau to H.G.O. Blake, 27 March 1848
