Henry David Thoreau Culture Quotations

I was more independent than any farmer in Concord, for I was not anchored to a house or farm, but could follow the bent of my genius, which is a very crooked one, every moment.

Of a life of luxury the fruit is luxury, whether in agriculture, or commerce, or literature, or art.

If we live in the Nineteenth Century, why should we not enjoy the advantages which the Nineteenth Century offers? Why should our life be in any respect provincial?

Alas! the culture of an Irishman is an enterprise to be undertaken with a sort of moral bog hoe.

A man will not need to study history to find out what is best for his own culture.

The best books are not read even by those who are called good readers. What does our Concord culture amount to? There is in this town, with a very few exceptions, no taste for the best or for very good books even in English literature, whose words all can read and spell.

The culture of the hop ... so analagous to the culture and uses of the grape, may afford a theme for future poets.

The best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor

It is not part of a true culture to tame tigers, any more than it is to make sheep ferocious.