What is called politics is comparatively something so superficial and inhuman, that practically I have never fairly recognized that it concerns me at all.

Live your life, do your work, then take your hat.

When the first light dawned on the earth, and the birds awoke, and the brave river was heard rippling confidently seaward, and the nimble early rising wind rustled the oak leaves about our tent, all people, having reinforced their bodies and their souls with sleep, and cast aside doubt and fear, were invited to unattempted adventures.

I am no more lonely than the loon in the pond that laughs so loud, or than Walden Pond itself. What company has that lonely lake,I pray?

We are the subjects of an experiment which is not a little interesting to me.

The authority of government . . . can have no pure right over my person and property but what I concede to it.

I had three pieces of limestone on my desk, but I was terrified to find that they required to be dusted daily, when the furniture of my mind was all undusted still, and threw them out the window in disgust.