As for the complex ways of living, I love them not, however much I practice them. In as many places as possible, I will get my feet down to the earth.

I will not allow mere names to make distinctions for me, but still see men in herds for all them.

I think it would be worth the while to introduce a school of children to such [an oak grove], that they may get an idea of the primitive oaks before they are all gone, instead of hiring botanists to lecture to them when it is too late.

I have much to learn of the Indian, nothing of the missionary.

Man needs to know but little more than a lobster in order to catch him in his traps.

Do not read the newspapers.

To the virtuous man, the universe is the only sanctum sanctorum, and the penetralia of the temple are the broad noon of his existence.