Quote by Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Ch.

Nay, be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought. Every man is the lord of a realm beside which the earthly empire of the Czar is but a petty state, a hummock left by the ice. Yet some can be patriotic who have no self-respect, and sacrifice the greater to the less. They love the soil which makes their graves, but have no sympathy with the spirit which may still animate their clay. Patriotism is a maggot in their heads.What was the meaning of that South-Sea Exploring Expedition, with all its parade and expense, but an indirect recognition of the fact that there are continents and seas in the moral world to which every man is an isthmus or an inlet, yet unexplored by him, but that it is easier to sail many thousand miles through cold and storm and cannibals, in a government ship, with five hundred men and boys to assist one, than it is to explore the private sea, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean of one's being alone.

Summary

This quote by Henry David Thoreau emphasizes the idea that true exploration and discovery lie within oneself. Thoreau compares the physical exploration of new continents by Columbus to the internal exploration of the realms of thoughts and ideas within each individual. He suggests that while some people may claim patriotism, they lack self-respect and fail to connect with their own true selves. Thoreau argues that it is more challenging and meaningful to delve into one's own thoughts and emotions than to embark on a grand external journey. The quote highlights the importance of introspection and self-discovery.