A man can suffocate on courtesy.

You must converse much with the field and the woods if you would imbibe such health into your mind and spirit as you covet for your body

How can any man be weak who dares to be at all?

Genius is not a retainer to any emperor.

I will not allow mere names to make distinctions for me, but still see men in herds for all them.

Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?

Once I went so far as to slaughter a woodchuck which ravaged my bean-field,--effect his transmigration, as a Tartar would say,--and devour him, partly for experiment's sake; but though it afforded me a momentary enjoyment, notwithstanding a musky flavor, I saw that the longest use would not make that a good practice, however it might seem to have your woodchucks ready dressed by the village butcher.