Excursions Quotes

“Books of natural history make the most cheerful winter reading.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“Nature is mythical and mystical always, and works with the license and extravagance of genius.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“They make their pride," he said, "in making their dinner cost much; I make my pride in making my dinner cost little." When asked at table what dish he preferred, he answered, "The nearest.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“The doctrines of despair, of spiritual or political tyranny or servitude, were never taught by such as shared the serenity of nature.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“Heaven might be defined as the place which men avoid.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“Nothing is so much to be feared as fear.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“But now, while we have loitered, the clouds have gathered again, and a few straggling snowflakes are beginning to descend. Faster and faster they fall, shutting out the distant objects from sight. The snow falls on every wood and field, and no crevice is forgotten; by the river and the pond, on the hill and in the valley. Quadrupeds are confined to their coverts and the birds sit upon their perches this peaceful hour. There is not so much sound as in fair weather, but silently and gradually every slope, and the gray walls and fences, and the polished ice, and the sere leaves, which were not buried before, are concealed, and the tracks of men and beasts are lost. With so little effort does nature reassert her rule and blot out the traces of men.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“We love to see any part of the earth tinged with blue, cerulean, the color of the sky, the celestial color.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“There is no scent in it so wholesome as that of the pines, nor any fragrance so penetrating and restorative as the life-everlasting in high pastures.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions

“Blue is light seen through a veil.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Excursions