Even the poor student studies and is taught only political economy, while that economy of living which is synonymous with philosophy is not even sincerely professed in our colleges. The consequence is, that while he is reading Adam Smith, Ricardo, and Say, he runs his father in debt irretrievably.
Henry David ThoreauWhile almost all men feel an attraction drawing them to society, few are attracted strongly to Nature. In their reaction to Naturemen appear to me for the most part, notwithstanding their arts, lower than the animals. It is not often a beautiful relation, as in the case of the animals. How little appreciation of the beauty of the landscape there is among us! We have to be told that the Greeks called the world Kosmos, Beauty, or Order, but we do not see clearly why they did so, and we esteem it at best only a curious philological fact.
Henry David ThoreauOnly he is successful in his business who makes that pursuit which affords him the highest pleasure sustain him.
Henry David ThoreauFurniture! Thank God, I can sit and I can stand without the aid of a furniture warehouse.
Henry David ThoreauIt is a ridiculous demand which England and America make, that you shall speak so that they can understand you. Neither men nor toadstools grow so.
Henry David Thoreau