Essays and Other Writings of Henry ThoreauWalter Scott, 1901 - 271 pages |
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Page 63
... practical social talent than any . He it is that proposes that each shall tell a tale to while away the time to Canterbury , and leads them himself , and concludes with his own tale- " Now , by my fader's soule that is ded , But ye be ...
... practical social talent than any . He it is that proposes that each shall tell a tale to while away the time to Canterbury , and leads them himself , and concludes with his own tale- " Now , by my fader's soule that is ded , But ye be ...
Page 87
... practical reason why , when the power is once in He hands of the people , a majority are permitted , and for a long eriod continue , to rule , is not because they are most likely be in the right , nor because this seems fairest to the ...
... practical reason why , when the power is once in He hands of the people , a majority are permitted , and for a long eriod continue , to rule , is not because they are most likely be in the right , nor because this seems fairest to the ...
Page 94
... practical denial of its authority was the only offence never contemplated by govern- ment ; else , why has it not assigned its definite , its suitable an proportionate penalty ? If a man who has no property " .refus ; but once to earn ...
... practical denial of its authority was the only offence never contemplated by govern- ment ; else , why has it not assigned its definite , its suitable an proportionate penalty ? If a man who has no property " .refus ; but once to earn ...
Page 104
... practical . Still his quality is not wisdom , but prudence . The lawyer's truth is not Truth , but consistency , or a consistent expediency . Truth is always in harmony with herself , and is not concerned chiefly to reveal the justice ...
... practical . Still his quality is not wisdom , but prudence . The lawyer's truth is not Truth , but consistency , or a consistent expediency . Truth is always in harmony with herself , and is not concerned chiefly to reveal the justice ...
Page 106
... practical talent enough to avail himself of the light which it sheds on the science of legislation ? The authority of government , even such as I am willing to submit to , -for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do better ...
... practical talent enough to avail himself of the light which it sheds on the science of legislation ? The authority of government , even such as I am willing to submit to , -for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do better ...
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Common terms and phrases
American answer better Border Ruffians bread called Carlyle Church commonly Concord Craigenputtock deeds doubt dream earnest earth Ecclefechan England English eyes feel forest Fraser's Magazine genius glad Goethe ground hear heard heavens HENRY D HENRY THOREAU hero hill human humour hung infinite John Brown kind labour laws least light live look man's marriage Massachusetts meadow merely Methinks moon morning mountains nature neighbour never night noble North Elba once perchance perhaps philosophy Pillar of Hercules poet poetry rare recognise remember respect seems sense serene Sharpe's rifles slavery slaves smoke snow society sometimes soul speak spirit stand STATEN ISLAND style summer sure sympathy talk tell things THOMAS CARLYLE THOREAU thought traveller trees true truth Vigilant Committee walk wild wind winter wise wish woods words worth write
Popular passages
Page 75 - In other words, when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize.
Page 83 - Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison. The proper place today, the only place which Massachusetts has provided for her freer and less desponding spirits, is in her prisons, to be put out and locked out of the state by her own act, as they have already put themselves out by their principles. It is there that the fugitive slave, and the Mexican prisoner on parole, and the Indian come to plead the wrongs of his race...
Page 254 - Light-winged Smoke, Icarian bird, Melting thy pinions in thy upward flight, Lark without song, and messenger of dawn, Circling above the hamlets as thy nest; Or else, departing dream, and shadowy form Of midnight vision, gathering up thy skirts; By night star-veiling, and by day Darkening the light and blotting out the sun; . Go thou my incense upward from this hearth, And ask the gods to pardon this clear flame.
Page xiii - He touched the tender stops of various quills, With eager thought warbling his Doric lay. And now the sun had stretched out all the hills, And now was dropped into the western bay. At last he rose, and twitched his mantle blue: Tomorrow to fresh woods, and pastures new.
Page 75 - How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave's government also.
Page 85 - If .a state is governed by the principles of reason, poverty and misery are subjects of shame ; if a state is not governed by the principles of reason, riches and honors are the subjects of shame.
Page 123 - He nothing common did or mean Upon that memorable scene, But with his keener eye The axe's edge did try; Nor called the gods, with vulgar spite, To vindicate his helpless right, But bowed his comely head Down, as upon a bed.
Page 86 - I saw that, if there was a wall of stone between me and my townsmen, there was a still more difficult one to climb or break through before they could get to be as free as I was.
Page 88 - I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation. I do not wish to split hairs, to make fine distinctions, or set myself up as better than my neighbors. I seek rather, I may say, even an excuse for conforming to the laws of the land. I am but too ready to conform to them.
Page 72 - ... are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government. The standing army is only an arm of the standing government. The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it. Witness the present Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for, in the outset, the people...