The volatile truth of our words should continually betray the inadequacy of the residual statement.

We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine to Texas; but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate.

A man must generally get away some hundreds or thousands of miles from home before he can be said to begin his travels. Why not begin his travels at home? Would he have to go far or look very closely to discover novelties? The traveler who, in this sense, pursues his travels at home, has the advantage at any rate of a long residence in the country to make his observations correct and profitable. Now the American goes to England, while the Englishman comes to America, in order to describe the country.

It appears to be a law that you cannot have a deep sympathy with both man and nature.

My enemies are worms, cool days, and most of all woodchucks.

Man emulates earth Earth emulates heaven Heaven emulates the Way The way emulates nature.

One can hardly imagine a more healthful employment, or one more favorable to contemplation and the observation of nature.