You ask particularly after my health. I suppose that I…

You ask particularly after my health. I suppose that I have not many months to live; but, of course, I know nothing about it. I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever, and regret nothing.

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His last letter, to Myron Benton (31 March 1862)

Other Henry David Thoreau Quotes

A very few, as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men, serve the State with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated by it as enemies. - View Quote Details on A very few, as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the…
Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? - View Quote Details on Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them,…
With respect to a true culture and manhood, we are essentially provincial still, not metropolitan, — mere Jonathans. We are provincial, because we do not find at home our standards, — because we do not worship truth, but the reflection of truth, — because we are warped and narrowed by an exclusive devotion to trade and commerce and manufactures and agriculture and the like, which are but means, and not the end. - View Quote Details on With respect to a true culture and manhood, we are…
For eighteen hundred years, though perchance I have no right to say it, the New Testament has been written; yet where is the legislator who has wisdom and practical talent enough to avail himself of the light which it sheds on the science of legislation? - View Quote Details on For eighteen hundred years, though perchance I have no right…
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…
It is true, I never assisted the sun materially in his rising; but, doubt not, it was of the last importance only to be present at it. 1 - View Quote Details on It is true, I never assisted the sun materially in…
Nothing is so much to be feared as fear. Atheism may comparatively be popular with God himself. - View Quote Details on Nothing is so much to be feared as fear. Atheism…
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;…
You must love the crust of the earth on which you dwell more than the sweet crust of any bread or cake; you must be able to extract nutriment out of a sand heap. - View Quote Details on You must love the crust of the earth on which…
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…