Quote

We admire Chaucer for his sturdy English wit.... But though it is full of good sense and humanity, it is not transcendent poetry.For picturesque description of persons it is, perhaps, without a parallel in English poetry yet it is essentially humorous, as the loftiest genius never is.

Henry David Thoreau

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Though
Humorous
Picturesque
Sense
Admire
Sturdy
Persons
English
Parallel
Without
Poetry
Transcendent
Good
Genius
Parallels
Never
Perhaps
Wit
Humanity
Description
Loftiest
Full
Essentially
Chaucer

More quotes by Henry David Thoreau

Image
A man cannot wheedle nor overawe his Genius. It requires to be conciliated by nobler conduct than the world demands or can appreciate.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
Man is an animal who more than any other can adapt himself to all climates and circumstances.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
I thought, as I have my living to get, and have not eaten today, that I might go a- fishing. That's the true industry for poets. It is the only trade I have learned.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
WE begin to die not in our sense or extremities, but in our divine faculties.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
My life has been the poem I would have writ, But I could not both live and utter it.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
The philosopher's conception of things will, above all, be truer than other men's, and his philosophy will subordinate all the circumstances of life. To live like a philosopher is to live, not foolishly, like other men, but wisely and according to universal laws.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
I have seen more men than usual, lately and, well as I was acquainted with one, I am surprised to find what vulgar fellows they are.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
All men are really most attracted by the beauty of plain speech, and they even write in a florid style in imitation of this. Theyprefer to be misunderstood rather than to come short of its exuberance.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
Commonly men will only be brave as their fathers were brave, or timid.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
It is desirable that a man be clad so simply that he can lay his hands on himself in the dark, and that he live in all respects so compactly and preparedly, that, if an enemy take the town, he can, like the old philosopher, walk out the gate empty-handed without anxiety.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
Nature is doing her best each moment to make us well. She exists for no other end. Do not resist. With the least inclination to be well, we should not be sick.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
Nature is doing her best each moment to make us well. Why, nature is but another name for health.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
Being is the great explainer.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
Where is the unexplored land but in our own untried enterprises? To an adventurous spirit any place--London, New York, Worcester, or his own yard--is unexplored land, to seek which Frémont and Kane travel so far. To a sluggish and defeated spirit even the Great Basin and the Polaris are trivial places.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
Ice is an interesting subject for contemplation. They told me that they had some in the ice-houses at Fresh Pond five years old which was as good as ever. Why is it that a bucket of water soon becomes putrid, but frozen remains sweet forever? It is commonly said that this is the difference between the affections and the intellect.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
The universe expects every man to do his duty in his parallel of latitude.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
There may be an excess of cultivation as well as of anything else, until civilization becomes pathetic. A highly cultivated man,--all whose bones can be bent! whose heaven-born virtues are but good manners!
Henry David Thoreau
Image
I stand in awe of my body.
Henry David Thoreau
Image
One who knew how to appropriate the true value of this world would be the poorest man in it. The poor rich man! all he has is whathe has bought.
Henry David Thoreau