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To the man who cherishes a secret in his breast, there is a still greater secret unexplored. Our most indifferent acts may be a matter for secrecy, but whatever we do with the utmost truthfulness and integrity, by virtue of its pureness, must be transparent as light.

Henry David Thoreau

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Henry David Thoreau
Age: 44 †
Born: 1817
Born: July 12
Died: 1862
Died: May 6
Abolitionist
Author
Autobiographer
Diarist
Ecologist
Environmentalist
Essayist
Naturalist
Philosopher
Poet
Translator
Writer
birthplace of Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau
Henry D. Thoreau
Stills
Purity
Truthfulness
Still
Acts
Utmost
May
Integrity
Secrecy
Matter
Virtue
Breast
Must
Secret
Transparent
Men
Greater
Indifferent
Pureness
Whatever
Breasts
Cherishes
Light
Cherish
Unexplored

More quotes by Henry David Thoreau

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We shall see but a little way if we require to understand what we see.
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Man makes very much such a nest for his domestic animals, of withered grass and fodder, as the squirrels and many other wild creatures do for themselves.
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There is in my nature, methinks, a singular yearning toward all wildness.
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At death our friends and relatives either draw nearer to us and are found out, or depart farther from us and are forgotten. Friends are as often brought nearer together as separated by death.
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We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake.
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Where there is a lull of truth, an institution springs up. But the truth blows right on over it, nevertheless, and at length blows it down.
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In the winter, warmth stands for all virtue.
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There are various, nay, incredible faiths why should we be alarmed at any of them? What man believes, God believes.
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There is always a present and extant life, be it better or worse, which all combine to uphold.
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Say, Not so, and you will out circle the philosophers.
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When will the world learn that a million men are of no importance compared with one man?
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Faith, indeed, is all the reform that is needed it is itself a reform.
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The front aspect of great thoughts can only be enjoyed by those who stand on the side whence they arrive.
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All these sounds, the crowing of cocks, the baying of dogs, and the hum of insects at noon, are the evidence of nature's health orsound state.
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Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.
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The only people who ever get anyplace interesting are the people who get lost.
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It is one of the signs of the times. We confess that we have risen from reading this book with enlarged ideas, and grander conceptions of our duties in this world. It did expand us a little.
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I do not know what right I have to so much happiness, but rather hold it in reserve till the time of my desert.
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Our taste is too delicate and particular. It says nay to the poet's work, but never yea to his hope.
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In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high.
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