Henry David Thoreau Quotations: Children
As a mother loves to see her child imbibe nourishment and expand, so God loves to see his children thrive on the nutriment he has furnished them.—Journal, 22 January 1859
Children appear to me as raw as the fresh fungi on a fence rail.—Journal, 7 November 1839
Every child begins the world again.—Walden
I cannot but believe that acorns were intended to be the food of man. They are agreeable to the palate as the mother's milk to the babe.—Journal, 8 October 1851
I suspect that the child plucks its first flower with an insight into its beauty & significance which the subsequent botanist never retains.—Journal, 5 February 1852
I sympathize not today with those who go to church in newest clothes and sit quietly in straight-backed pews. I sympathize rather with the boy who has none to look after him, who borrows a boat and paddle and in common clothes sets out to explore these temporary vernal lakes.—Journal, 3 May 1857
It is folly to attempt to educate children within a city. The first step must be to remove them out of it.—Journal, 25 July 1851
It is remarkable that no pains is taken to teach children to distinguish colors. I am myself uncertain about the names of many.—Journal, 28 January 1852
The child may soon stand face to face with the best father.—Journal, 12 February 1841
The mother tells her falsehoods to her child, but thank Heaven, the child does not grow up in its parent's shadow.—A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
