Quote by Henry David Thoreau

I do believe in simplicity. It is astonishing as well as sad, how many trivial affairs even the wisest thinks he must attend to in a day; how singular an affair he thinks he must omit. When the mathematician would solve a difficult problem, he first frees the equation of all incumbrances, and reduces it to its simplest terms. So simplify the problem of life, distinguish the necessary and the real. Probe the earth to see where your main roots run.

I do believe in simplicity. It is astonishing as well as sad

Summary

In this quote, the author emphasizes the importance of simplicity in everyday life. They express their astonishment and sadness over how individuals, even the wisest ones, tend to focus on trivial matters and overlook essential aspects. The author draws a parallel with mathematics, where a mathematician simplifies a complex problem by removing unnecessary elements and reducing it to its simplest form. Similarly, the author encourages us to simplify the complexities of life, identifying what is truly necessary and real, and delving deeply to understand our fundamental values and priorities.

Topics

Wisdom Life Simplicity

By Henry David Thoreau

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

The great American novel has not only already been written,

The great American novel has not only already been written, it has already been rejected.

Reading

If there is only one thing in my life that I am proud of, it

If there is only one thing in my life that I am proud of, it's that I've never been a kept woman.

Life

First secure an independent income, then practice virtue.

First secure an independent income, then practice virtue.

Money

My mom is still yelling at me because she needs more autogra

My mom is still yelling at me because she needs more autographed pictures.

Mom

Put an Irishman on the spit and you can always get another I

Put an Irishman on the spit and you can always get another Irishman to turn him.

George Bernard Shaw

Nationalism Nation Nationality

I'm just attracted to playing people who are ostensible unli

I'm just attracted to playing people who are ostensible unlikable. That's not to say that there's something in there that makes you care. It might be that you just find them so awful that you just can't stop watching, like a car crash.

Car

I don't happen to have a sense of humor personally, so I don

I don't happen to have a sense of humor personally, so I don't know what's funny about a character... This happens to be a feature of my life generally.

Funny

I cannot believe that my illness is natural. I suspect Satan

I cannot believe that my illness is natural. I suspect Satan, and therefore I am the more inclined to take it lightly.

Martin Luther King Jr.

The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to ha

The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state.

When delicate and feeling souls are separated, there is not

When delicate and feeling souls are separated, there is not a feature in the sky, not a movement of the elements, not an aspiration of the breeze, but hints some cause for a lover's apprehension.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Absence

I wish I'd gotten sober at a younger age.

I wish I'd gotten sober at a younger age.

Janice Dickinson

I've never felt that I had to take a role in one of those me

I've never felt that I had to take a role in one of those mediocre but hugely budgeted romantic comedies because I want to wear beautiful dresses and have people think I'm pretty and that I get the guy.

Romantic