None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Voting alone is insufficient; true conviction demands action beyond mere expression.
Henry David Thoreau emphasizes that simply voting for what is right does not guarantee its success or reflect true commitment. He argues that relying on chance or the majority's decision undermines the value of righteousness, suggesting that individuals should take proactive steps to ensure justice rather than passively supporting it through votes alone.
Themes
VotingActionJusticeMoralityMajority
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about civic engagement and the importance of activism.
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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That grand old poem called Winter
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