The unconsciousness of man is the consciousness of God.

Sourced, A Week on the Concord and Marrimack Rivers
(1849)

Other Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Who could believe in prophecies of Daniel or of Miller that the world would end this summer, while one milkweed with faith matured its seeds? - View Quote Details on Who could believe in prophecies of Daniel or of Miller…
That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest. - View Quote Details on That man is richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.
Money is not required to buy one necessary of the soul. - View Quote Details on Money is not required to buy one necessary of the…
The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them. - View Quote Details on The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge…
The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free. - View Quote Details on The law will never make men free; it is men…
Among American writers Thoreau was the pioneer of nature-study. Audubon had preceded him but he worked mainly with the brush; to multitudes Thoreau opened the gate to the secrets of our natural environment. The subtle delicacy of the grass-blade, the crystals of the snowflake, the icicle, the marvel of the weird lines traced by the flocks of wild geese athwart the heavens as they migrated, these he watched and recorded with loving accuracy and sensitive poetic feeling as no one in our land before had done. I have thrown a stone upon the cairn at Walden Pond which has now grown so high through the tributes of his grateful admirers. I shall throw still others in grateful admiration if the opportunity comes to me. - View Quote Details on Among American writers Thoreau was the pioneer of nature-study. Audubon…
It was his peculiar doctrine that a man has a perfect right to interfere by force with the slaveholder, in order to rescue the slave. I agree with him. They who are continually shocked by slavery have some right to be shocked by the violent death of the slaveholder, but no others. - View Quote Details on It was his peculiar doctrine that a man has a…
The vessel, though her masts be firm,
Beneath her copper bears a worm. - View Quote Details on The vessel, though her masts be firm,
Beneath her copper bears…
One cannot too soon forget his errors and misdemeanors. To dwell long upon them is to add to the offense. Repentance and sorrow can only be displaced by something better, which is as free and original as if they had not been. - View Quote Details on One cannot too soon forget his errors and misdemeanors. To…
He who gives himself entirely to his fellow-men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist. - View Quote Details on He who gives himself entirely to his fellow-men appears to…