Men rush to California and Australia as if the true…

Men rush to California and Australia as if the true gold were to be found in that direction; but that is to go to the very opposite extreme to where it lies. They go prospecting farther and farther away from the true lead, and are most unfortunate when they think themselves most successful.

Sourced, Life Without Principle
(1863)

Other Henry David Thoreau Quotes

I think his fancy for referring everything to the meridian of Concord did not grow out of any ignorance or depreciation of other longitudes or latitudes, but was rather a playful expression of his conviction of the indifferency of all places, and that the best place for each is where he stands. He expressed it once in this wise: — “I think nothing is to be hoped from you, if this bit of mould under your feet is not sweeter to you to eat than any other in this world, or in any world.” - View Quote Details on I think his fancy for referring everything to the meridian…
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;…
Go where we will on the surface of things, men have been there before us. - View Quote Details on Go where we will on the surface of things, men…
It would be worthy of the age to print together the collected Scriptures or Sacred Writings of the several nations, the Chinese, the Hindoos, the Persians, the Hebrews, and others, as the Scripture of mankind. The New Testament is still, perhaps, too much on the lips and in the hearts of men to be called a Scripture in this sense. Such a juxtaposition and comparison might help to liberalize the faith of men. This is a work which Time will surely edit, reserved to crown the labors of the printing-press. This would be the Bible, or Book of Books, which let the missionaries carry to the uttermost parts of the earth. - View Quote Details on It would be worthy of the age to print together…
A true account of the actual is the rarest poetry, for common sense always takes a hasty and superficial view. - View Quote Details on A true account of the actual is the rarest poetry,…
It takes two to speak the truth, — one to speak, and another to hear. - View Quote Details on It takes two to speak the truth, — one to…
Idealist as he was, standing for abolition of slavery, abolition of tariffs, almost for abolition of government, it is needless to say he found himself not only unrepresented in actual politics, but almost equally opposed to every class of reformers. - View Quote Details on Idealist as he was, standing for abolition of slavery, abolition…
The frontiers are not east or west, north or south, but wherever a man fronts a fact, though that fact be his neighbor, there is an unsettled wilderness between him and Canada, between him and the setting sun, or, farther still, between him and it. - View Quote Details on The frontiers are not east or west, north or south,…
It would be worth the while to look closely into the eye which has been open and seeing at such hours, and in such solitudes, its dull, yellowish, greenish eye. Methinks my own soul must be a bright invisible green. - View Quote Details on It would be worth the while to look closely into…
And the cost of a thing it will be remembered is the amount of life it requires to be exchanged for it. - View Quote Details on And the cost of a thing it will be remembered…