A friend is one who incessantly pays us the compliment of expecting from us all the virtues, and who can appreciate them in us. The friend asks no return but that his friend will religiously accept and wear and not disgrace his apotheosis of him. They cherish each other's hopes. They are kind to each other's dreams.
Henry David ThoreauI am wont to think that men are not so much the keepers of herds as herds are the keepers of men. The former are so much the freer.
Henry David ThoreauSo far as my experience goes, travelers generally exaggerate the difficulties of the way. Like most evil, the difficulty is imaginary; for what's the hurry?
Henry David ThoreauThus was my first year's life in the woods completed; and the second year was similar to it. I finally left Walden September 6th,1847.
Henry David ThoreauHow can we remember our ignorance, which our growth requires, when we are using our knowledge all the time?
Henry David ThoreauHence it will not do for the Landlord to possess too fine a nature.... He must have no idiosyncracies, no particular bents or tendencies to this or that, but a general, uniform, and healthy development, such as his portly person indicates, offering himself equally on all sides to men.
Henry David Thoreau