I am as desirous of being a good neighbor as…

I am as desirous of being a good neighbor as I am of being a bad subject.

Sourced, Civil Disobedience
(1849)

Other Henry David Thoreau Quotes

The New Testament is an invaluable book, though I confess to having been slightly prejudiced against it in my very early days by the church and the Sabbath school, so that it seemed, before I read it, to be the yellowest book in the catalogue. Yet I early escaped from their meshes. It was hard to get the commentaries out of one’s head and taste its true flavor. — I think that Pilgrim’s Progress is the best sermon which has been preached from this text; almost all other sermons that I have heard, or heard of, have been but poor imitations of this. — It would be a poor story to be prejudiced against the Life of Christ because the book has been edited by Christians. - View Quote Details on The New Testament is an invaluable book, though I confess…
In the Catholic Church, especially, they go into chancery, make a clean confession, give up all, and think to start again. Thus men will lie on their backs, talking about the fall of man, and never make an effort to get up. - View Quote Details on In the Catholic Church, especially, they go into chancery, make…
Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find a trout in the milk. - View Quote Details on Some circumstantial evidence is very strong, as when you find…
What are the earth and all its interests beside the deep surmise which pierces and scatters them? - View Quote Details on What are the earth and all its interests beside the…
Men and boys are learning all kinds of trades but how to make men of themselves. They learn to make houses; but they are not so well housed, they are not so contented in their houses, as the woodchucks in their holes. What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on? — If you cannot tolerate the planet that it is on? Grade the ground first. If a man believes and expects great things of himself, it makes no odds where you put him, or what you show him… he will be surrounded by grandeur. He is in the condition of a healthy and hungry man, who says to himself, — How sweet this crust is! - View Quote Details on Men and boys are learning all kinds of trades but…
How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answered that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. - View Quote Details on How does it become a man to behave toward this…
She with one breath attunes the spheres,
And also my poor human heart. - View Quote Details on She with one breath attunes the spheres,
And also my…
Who looks in the sun will see no light else; but also he will see no shadow. Our life revolves unceasingly, but the centre is ever the same, and the wise will regard only the seasons of the soul. - View Quote Details on Who looks in the sun will see no light else;…
Most men would feel insulted, if it were proposed to employ them in throwing stones over a wall, and then in throwing them back, merely that they might earn their wages. But many are no more worthily employed now. - View Quote Details on Most men would feel insulted, if it were proposed to…
The wisest man preaches no doctrines; he has no scheme; he sees no rafter, not even a cobweb, against the heavens. It is clear sky. If I ever see more clearly at one time than at another, the medium through which I see is clearer. - View Quote Details on The wisest man preaches no doctrines; he has no scheme;…