Henry David Thoreau Quotes About Charity

• Not only must we be good, but we must also be good for something.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Good Life, Son, Fundraising

• Men have become the tools of their tools.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Witty, Work, Humorous

  1854 Walden, or Life in the Woods,'Economy'.

• I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my life who understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walks - who had the genius, so to speak, for sauntering: which word is beautifully derived "from idle people who roved about the country, in the Middle Ages, and asked for charity, under the pretense of going à la Sainte Terre," to the Holy Land, till the children exclaimed, "There goes a Sainte-Terrer," a Saunterer, a Holy-Lander.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Country, Art, Children

• Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently appreciated by mankind.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Life, Charity, Appreciated

  Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.121

• If you give money, spend yourself with it.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Money, Giving, Charity

  Henry David Thoreau (1882). “Walden”, p.119

• Some show their kindness to the poor by employing them in their kitchens. Would they not be kinder if they employed themselves there?

  Henry David Thoreau

  Kindness, Kitchen, Charity

  Henry David Thoreau (1995). “Walden, Or, Life in the Woods”, p.49, Courier Corporation

• Who ever saw his old clothes, - his old coat, actually worn out, resolved into its primitive elements, so that it was not a deed of charity to bestow it on some poor boy, by him perchance to be bestowed on some poorer still, or shall we say richer, who could do with less? I say, beware of all enterprises that require new clothes, and not rather a new wearer of clothes.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Boys, Clothes, Environmental

  Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Citizen Thoreau: Walden, Civil Disobedience, Life Without Principle, Slavery in Massachusetts, A Plea for Captain John Brown”, p.24, Graphic Arts Books

• You boast of spending a tenth part of your income in charity; may be you should spend the nine tenths so, and done with it.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Income, Done, Charity

  Henry David Thoreau (2012). “Walden; Or, Life in the Woods”, p.49, Courier Corporation

• The richest gifts we can bestow are the least marketable. We hate the kindness which we understand.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Friendship, Kindness, Hate

  Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.49, Jazzybee Verlag

• The wonderful purity of nature at this season is a most pleasing fact.... In the bare fields and tinkling woods, see what virtue survives. In the coldest and bleakest places, the warmest charities still maintain a foothold.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Winter, Charity, Woods

  Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.47, Penguin

• Objects of charity are not guests.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Charity, Guests, Objects

  Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.236, Penguin

• I confess that I have hitherto indulged very little in philanthropic enterprises.... While my townsmen and women are devoted in somany ways to the good of their fellows, I trust that one at least may be spared to other and less humane pursuits. You must have a genius for charity as well as for anything else. As for Doing-good, that is one of the professions which are full.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Genius, Charity, May

• How long shall we sit in our porticoes practising idle and musty virtues, which any work would make impertinent? As if one were tobegin the day with long-suffering, and hire a man to hoe his potatoes; and in the afternoon go forth to practise Christian meekness and charity with goodness aforethought!

  Henry David Thoreau

  Christian, Men, Long

  Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.516, Delphi Classics

• Most think that they are above being supported by the town; but it oftener happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means, which would be more disreputable.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Mean, Thinking, Hypocrisy

  Henry David Thoreau (2013). “The Essential Thoreau”, p.190, Simon and Schuster

• You must have a genius for charity as well as for anything else.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Charity, Genius, Wells

  Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.192, Penguin

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