Henry David Thoreau Quotations: Religion & Religions
A man's real faith is never contained in his creed, nor is his creed an article of his faith.—A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
As for the religion and love of art of the builders, it is much the same all the world over, whether the building be an Egyptian temple or the United States Bank.—Walden
For the true art is not merely a sublime consolation and holiday labor, which the gods have given to sickly mortals; but such a masterpiece as you may imagine a dweller on the tablelands of central Asia might produce, with threescore and ten years for canvas, and the faculties of a man for tools,—a human life; wherein you might hope to discover more than the freshness of Guido's Aurora, or the mild light of Titian's landscapes,—no bald imitation nor even rival of Nature, but rather the restored original of which she is the reflection.—"The Service"
How happens it we reverence the stones which fall from another planet, and not the stones which belong to this—another globe, not this—heaven, and not earth? Are not the stones in Hodge’s wall as good as the aerolite at Mecca? Is not our broad back-door-stone as good as any corner-stone in heaven.—Journal, 30 August 1856
I am not sure but this Catholic religion would be an admirable one if the priest were quite omitted.—"A Yankee in Canada"
I suppose that what in other men is religion is in me love of nature.—Journal, 30 October 1842
If a man do not revive with nature in the spring, how shall he revive when a white-collared priest prays for him? —Journal, 20 March 1858
If Christ should appear on earth he could on all hands be denounced as a mistaken, misguided man, insane and crazed.—Journal, 19 October 1859
If it were not for death and funerals I think the institution of the Church would not stand longer.—Journal, 16 November 1851
In friendship we worship moral beauty without the formality of religion. —Journal, 1837-1847
