Many have believed that Walden reached quite through to the other side of the globe.

There are old heads in the world who cannot help me by their example or advice to live worthily and satisfactorily to myself; but I believe that it is in my power to elevate myself this very hour above the common level of my life.

I am very little of a traveler.

It is a thorough process, this war with the wilderness - breaking nature, taming the soil. feeding it on oats. The civilized man regards the pine tree as his enemy. He will fell it and let in the light, grub it up and raise wheat or rye there. It is no better than a fungus to him.

Who that has heard a strain of music feared then lest he should speak extravagantly any more forever?

I do not know how to distinguish between waking life and a dream. Are we not always living the life that we imagine we are?

The perception of beauty is a moral test.