Henry David Thoreau Quotes About Power

• I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest. What force has a multitude? They can only force me who obey a higher law than I.... I do not hear of men being forced to live this way or that by masses of men. What sort of life were that to live?

  Henry David Thoreau

  Fashion, Power, Men

  Henry David Thoreau (2009). “Civil Disobedience: Resistance to Civil Government”, p.26, The Floating Press

• A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Power, Majority, Minorities

  Henry David Thoreau (1942). “Civil Disobedience”, p.11, Hayes Barton Press

• Nearest to all things is that power which fashions their being. Next to us the grandest laws are constantly being executed. Next to us is not the workman whom we have hired, with whom we love so well to talk, but the workman whose work we are.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Fashion, Power, Law

  Henry David Thoreau (2016). “Walden”, p.97, Xist Publishing

• The sort of morality which the priests inculcate is a very subtle policy, far finer than the politicians', and the world is very successfully ruled by them as the policemen.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Power, World, Morality

  Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.96, Penguin

• Every ambitious would-be empire, clarions it abroad that she is conquering the world to bring it peace, security and freedom, and it is sacrificing her sons only for the most noble and humanitarian purposes. That is a lie; and it is an ancient lie, yet generations still rise and believe it.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Lying, Believe, Son

• It is said that the British Empire is very large and respectable, and that the United States are a first-rate power. We do not believe that a tide rises and falls behind every man which can float the British Empire like a chip, if he should ever harbor it in his mind.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Fall, Believe, Power

  Henry David Thoreau (2009). “Walden”, p.215, Cosimo, Inc.

• Every man should stand for a force which is perfectly irresistible.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Integrity, Power, Men

  Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Familiar Letters (Annotated Edition)”, p.133, Jazzybee Verlag

• It would surpass the powers of a well man nowadays to take up his bed and walk, and I should certainly advise a sick one to lay down his bed and run.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Running, Health, Men

  Henry David Thoreau (2009). “Walden”, p.43, Cosimo, Inc.

• It will be seen that we contemplate a time when man's will shall be law to the physical world, and he shall no longer be deterredby such abstractions as time and space, height and depth, weight and hardness, but shall indeed be the lord of creation.

  Henry David Thoreau

  Science, Men, Power

  Henry David Thoreau (2014). “Miscellanies (Annotated Edition)”, p.23, Jazzybee Verlag

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