Strange that so few ever come to the woods to see how the pine lives and grows and spires, lifting its evergreen arms to the light,--to see its perfect success; but most are content to behold it in the shape of many broad boards brought to market, and deem that its true success! But the pine is no more lumber than man is, and to be made into boards and houses is no more its true and highest use than the truest use of a man is to be cut down and made into manure.

Instead of noblemen, let us have noble villages of men.

As long as I have the friendship of the sesasons life will never be a burden to me.

One must maintain a little bittle of summer, even in the middle of winter.

There is commonly sufficient space about us. Our horizon is never quite at our elbows.

Of course it is of no use to direct our steps to the woods, if they do not carry us thither. I am alarmed when it happens that I have walked a mile into the woods bodily, without getting there in spirit.... What business have I in the woods, if I am thinking of something out of the woods?

The greatest and saddest defect is not credulity, but an habitual forgetfulness that our science is ignorance.