The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us.
He is not a true man of science who does not bring some sympathy to his studies, and expect to learn something by behaviour as well as application.
If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself. Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
Live free, child of the mist,- and with respect to knowledge we are allchildren of the mist.
There are as many strata at different levels of life as there are leaves in a book. When on the higher levels we can remember the lower levels, but when on the lower we cannot remember the higher.
But men labor under a mistake. The better part of the man is soon plowed into the soil for compost.
Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly.
The mission of men there seems to be, like so many busy demons, to drive the forest all out of the country, from every solitary beaver swamp and mountain-side, as soon as possible.
What is sour in the house a bracing walk in the woods makes sweet.
Blessed are they who never read a newspaper, for they shall see Nature, and through her, God.
Great God, I ask thee for no meaner pelf Than that I may not disappoint myself, That in my action I may soar as high As I can now discern with this clear eye.
The cart before the horse is neither beautiful nor useful.
The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man’s abode.
I live in the present. I only remember the past, and anticipate the future.
What recommends commerce to me is its enterprise and bravery. It does not clasp its hands and pray to Jupiter.
What is morality but immemorial custom? Conscience is the chief of conservatives.
You cannot receive a shock unless you have an electric affinity for that which shocks you.
Poetry is nothing but healthy speech.
It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.
As if there were safety in stupidity alone.