All health and success does me good, however far off and withdrawn it may appear; all disease and failure helps to make me sad anddoes me evil, however much sympathy it may have with me or I with it.
Henry David ThoreauA true account of the actual is the rarest poetry, for common sense always takes a hasty and superficial view.
Henry David ThoreauYou may raise enough money to tunnel a mountain, but you cannot raise money enough to hire a man who is minding his own business.
Henry David ThoreauIf one doubts whether Grecian valor and patriotism are not a fiction of the poets, he may go to Athens and see still upon the walls of the temple of Minerva the circular marks made by the shields taken from the enemy in the Persian war, which were suspended there. We have not far to seek for living and unquestionable evidence. The very dust takes shape and confirms some story which we had read.
Henry David Thoreau