Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Whe Quotes

A collection of quotes by Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Whe.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, and naturalist. Born in Concord, Massachusetts, he was deeply influenced by the transcendentalist movement, which emphasized the importance of nature and self-reliance.

Thoreau is most well-known for his book "Walden," published in 1854. In this work, he documents his experiment in simple living by building a cabin in the woods near Walden Pond. Living there for two years, two months, and two days, Thoreau sought to prioritize a connection with nature and self-discovery.

In addition to "Walden," Thoreau's essay "Civil Disobedience" has had a significant impact on political and social movements. This influential piece advocates for individual conscience and non-violent resistance as means to challenge unjust laws. Thoreau actively practiced civil disobedience by refusing to pay taxes in protest against the institution of slavery and the Mexican-American War.

Thoreau's writings continue to resonate with readers around the world due to his powerful descriptions of nature, his exploration of the human condition, and his critique of societal norms. Through his works, he encouraged individuals to embrace simplicity, appreciate the beauty of the natural world, and live deliberately.

Henry David Thoreau's legacy as a renowned writer and thinker endures, significantly shaping the fields of literature, environmentalism, and social justice. His profound insights continue to inspire generations to seek truth, live authentically, and find harmony with nature.

Still we live meanly, like ants; though the fable tells us t

Still we live meanly, like ants; though the fable tells us that we were long ago changed into men; like pygmies we fight with cranes; it is error upon error, and clout upon clout, and our best virtue has for its occasion a superfluous and evitable wretchedness. Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail. In the midst of this chopping sea of civilized life, such are the clouds and storms and quicksands and thousand-and-one items to be allowed for, that a man has to live, if he would not founder and go to the bottom and not make his port at all, by dead reckoning, and he must be a great calculator indeed who succeeds. Simplify, simplify. Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion.

Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Whe

Simplicity