None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally and rightfully on the shelves of every cottage. They have no cause of their own to plead, but while they enlighten and sustain the reader his common sense will not refuse them. Their authors are a natural and irresistible aristocracy in every society, and, more than kings or emperors, exert an influence on mankind.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Books hold immense value and knowledge, passed down generations, shaping society and influencing individuals.
In this quote, Thoreau emphasizes the importance of books as a form of wealth that enriches the minds of individuals and societies. He suggests that books should have a prominent place in people's lives, as they provide enlightenment and understanding that transcend societal hierarchies. Thoreau likens authors to an 'aristocracy' whose influence can surpass that of traditional rulers, highlighting how literature shapes culture and thought across generations.
Themes
BooksWealthKnowledgeInfluenceCulture
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of education, one could quote Thoreau to emphasize how books shape our understanding.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes →Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
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Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.
Henry David ThoreauRead
That grand old poem called Winter
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