Of what significance the light of day, if it is not the reflection of an inward dawn?—to what purpose is the veil of night withdrawn, if the morning reveals nothing to the soul?—"Night and Moonlight"
So is not shade as good as sunshine—night as day? Why be eagles and thrushes always, and owls and whippoor-wills never?—Journal, 16 June 1840
Some are "industrious," and appear to love labor for its own sake, or perhaps because it keeps them out of worse mischief; to such I have at present nothing to say. Those who would not know what to do with more leisure than they now enjoy, I might advise to work twice as hard as they do—work till they pay for themselves, and get their free papers.—Walden
The day is an epitome of the year. The night is the winter, the morning and evening are the spring and fall, and the noon is the summer.—Walden
The night is oracular. What have been the intimations of the night? I ask. How have you passed the night? Good-night!—Journal, 27 October 1851
The occupied ear thinks that beyond the cricket no sound can be heard, but there is an immortal melody that may be heard morning, noon, and night, by ears that can attend, and from time to time this man or that hears it, having ears that were made for music.—Journal, 21 July 1851
The prospect of the young is forward and unbounded, mingling the future with the present. In the declining day the thoughts make haste to rest in darkness, and hardly look forward to the ensuing morning. The thoughts of the old prepare for night and slumber. The same hopes and prospects are not for him who stands upon the rosy mountain-tops of life, and him who expects the setting of his earthly day.—A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
The Scarlet Oak asks a clear sky and the brightness of late October days. These bring out its colors.—"Autumnal Tints"
There is a certain glory attends on water by night. By it the heavens are related to the earth—Undistinguishable from a sky beneath you.—Journal, 13 June 1851
What institutions of man can survive a morning experience?—Journal, 24 May 1851
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