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Henry David Thoreau Quotes

Browse 6 quotes about Henry David Thoreau.

Henry David Thoreau Quotes

“In 1881, being on a visit to Boston, my wife and I found ourselves in the Parker House with the Ingersoll's, and went over to Charleston to hear him lecture. His subject was 'Some Mistakes of Moses,' and it was a memorable experience. Our lost leaders, -- Emerson, Thoreau, Theodore Parker, -- who had really spoken to disciples rather than to the nation, seemed to have contributed something to form this organ by which their voice could reach the people. Every variety of power was in this orator, -- logic and poetry, humor and imagination, simplicity and dramatic art, moral and boundless sympathy. The wonderful power which Washington's Attorney-general, Edmund Randolph, ascribed to Thomas Paine of insinuating his ideas equally into learned and unlearned had passed from Paine's pen to Ingersoll's tongue. The effect on the people was indescribable. The large theatre was crowded from pit to dome. The people were carried from plaudits of his argument to loud laughter at his humorous sentences, and his flexible voice carried the sympathies of the assembly with it, at times moving them to tears by his pathos. {Conway's thoughts on the great Robert Ingersoll}”

LoveInspirationalArtReasonWisdomHumorTruthPoetryVoiceFriendshipImaginationEmotionPowerTearsHonorMoralitySpeechLaughterRespectLogicPraiseSimplicityMemorableAdmirationSympathyBostonMirthPathosPaineLectureIngersollRobert G IngersollRobert IngersollRobert Green IngersollEmersonOratorThomas PaineThoreauRalph Waldo EmersonHenry David ThoreauRalph EmersonHenry D ThoreauHenry ThoreauRalph E EmersonSome Mistakes Of Moses
Book:My Pilgrimage to the Wise Men of the East
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“When we heard at first [John Brown] was dead, one of my townsmen observed that "he died as the fool dieth"; which, pardon me, for an instant suggested a likeness in him dying to my neighbor living. Others, craven-hearted, said disparagingly, that "he threw his life away" because he resisted the government. Which ways have they thrown their lives, pray? —such would praise a man for attacking singly an ordinary band of thieves and murderers. I hear another ask, Yankee-like, "What will he gain by it?" as if he expected to fill his pockets by their enterprise. Such a one has no idea of gain but in this worldly sense. If it does not lead to a "surprise" party, if he does not gain a new pair of boots, or a vote of thanks, it must be a failure. "But he won't gain anything by it." Well, no, I don’t suppose he could get four-and-sixpence a day for being hung, take the year round; but he stands a chance to save a considerable part of his soul—and what a soul!—when you do not. No doubt you can get more in your market for a quart of milk than a quart of blood, but that is not the market heroes carry their blood to.”

JusticeActivismCivil WarJohn BrownAbolitionismHenry David Thoreau
Book:A Plea For Captain John Brown
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