You must love the crust of the earth on which you dwell more than the sweet crust of any bread or cake. You must be able to extract nutriment out of a sand-heap. You must have so good an appetite as this, else you will live in vain

The savage in man is never quite eradicated.

So our human life but dies down to its root, and still puts forth its green blade to eternity.

Nature must be viewed humanly to be viewed at all; that is, her scenes must be associated with humane affections, such as are associated with one's native place. She is most significant to a lover. A lover of Nature is preeminently a lover of man. If I have no friend, what is Nature to me? She ceases to be morally significant. . .

The cart before the horse is neither beautiful nor useful.

There are many skillful apprentices, but few master workmen.

I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.