None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence.
Interpretation
Engage fully in the political process, using all your influence and passion.
Henry David Thoreau emphasizes the importance of active participation in societal matters, urging individuals to not just cast a vote but to invest their entire influence and efforts into driving change. This quote serves as a reminder that true commitment to democracy involves deeper engagement beyond mere voting, advocating for a holistic approach to civic responsibility.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of civic engagement, I quoted Thoreau to inspire the audience to take action in their communities.
None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Through want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
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.
That grand old poem called Winter
No matter what trials we face, Christ never leaves us. He is with us every step of the way!
Be a hero. Always say, 'I have no fear.' Tell this to everyone - 'Have no fear.'
Hatred as an element of the struggle; a relentless hatred of the enemy, impelling us over and beyond the natural limitations that man is heir to and transforming him into an effective, violent, selective and cold killing machine. Our soldiers must be thus; a people without hatred cannot vanquish a brutal enemy.
The Red Sox hadn't won in 86 years when we took over. We didn't run from that challenge - we embraced it.
You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.
Although extraordinary valor was displayed by the entire corps of Spartans and Thespians, yet bravest of all was declared the Spartan Dienekes. It is said that on the eve of battle, he was told by a native of Trachis that the Persian archers were so numerous that, their arrows would block out the sun. Dienekes, however, undaunted by this prospect, remarked with a laugh, 'Good. Then we will fight in the shade.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.