Quote by Henry David Thoreau, letter to H

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so.Aim above morality.Be not simply good;be good for something.All fables, indeed, have their morals; but the innocent enjoy the story. Let nothing come between you and the light. Respect men and brothers only. When you travel to the Celestial City, carry no letter of introduction. When you knock, ask to see God,http://www.walden.org/institute/thoreau/writings/correspondence/1848_03_27_Blake.htm

Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life

Summary

This quote by Henry David Thoreau encourages individuals to find a balance between being morally upright and experiencing all that life has to offer. Thoreau suggests that strictly adhering to societal morals can limit one's potential for growth and adventure. Instead, he encourages us to strive for a higher purpose and contribute meaningfully to the world. Thoreau suggests that we should not be solely focused on being perceived as good, but rather be good in a way that serves a greater purpose. He urges us to have a childlike innocence and enjoyment in life's stories, while staying true to ourselves and our inner light. Ultimately, Thoreau challenges us to seek an authentic connection with divinity without any external introductions.

Topics

By Henry David Thoreau, letter to H

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

Love, too, was just a question of time

Love, too, was just a question of time

Quotes Paulo Coelho

Free yourself from the complexities of your life! A life of

Free yourself from the complexities of your life! A life of simplicity and happiness awaits you.

Life Success Happiness Motivational Simplicity Inspirational Action

In this world of change naught which comes stays and naught

In this world of change naught which comes stays and naught which goes is lost.

Madame Swetchine

I thought my life was mapped out. Research, living in the fo

I thought my life was mapped out. Research, living in the forest, teaching and writing. But in '86 I went to a conference and realised the chimpanzees were disappearing. I had worldwide recognition and a gift of communication. I had to use them.

I want you to know that, despite what you might read at time

I want you to know that, despite what you might read at times in the newspapers or see on the television news, we have actually been getting a lot of things done the last several months, the U.S.-Canada relationship.

What sort of love is permeated by jealousy? You are jealous

What sort of love is permeated by jealousy? You are jealous because you are unaware that everything you need is inside you.

Love Jealousy Need

You get to the point in your life where everything isn't bla

You get to the point in your life where everything isn't black and white and good and bad, and you try to do the right thing. Now, you might not like that. You might think me very cynical about that. Well f--- it; I don't care what you think.

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even i

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil in its worst state an intolerable one.

Best Government Society

I want there to be a level of respect between everybody.

I want there to be a level of respect between everybody.

It is in the ordinary events of every day that we develop th

It is in the ordinary events of every day that we develop the proactive capacity to handle the extraordinary pressures of life. It's how we make and keep commitments, how we handle a traffic jam, how we respond to an irate customer or a disobedient child. It's how we view our problems and where we focus our energies. It's the language we use.

Stephen Covey, The Seven Habits

Remember, we Christians think man lives for ever. Therefore,

Remember, we Christians think man lives for ever. Therefore, what really matters is those little marks or twists on the central, inside part of the soul which are going to turn it, in the long run, into a heavenly or a hellish creature.

Inspirational Soul

All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind

All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.

Swami Vivekananda