None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
What is a country without rabbits and partridges? They are among the most simple and indigenous animal products; ancient and venerable families known to antiquity as to modern times; of the very hue and substance of Nature, nearest allied to leaves and to the ground.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the importance of simple, natural elements of a country, emphasizing their deep-rooted connection to its identity.
Henry David Thoreau's quote highlights the intrinsic value of simple, native wildlife like rabbits and partridges in defining a country's essence. Through this analogy, he underscores the deep relationship between nature and culture, suggesting that these creatures represent a continuity of life and a connection to the earth, which is essential for understanding what a country truly embodies.
Themes
CountryNatureWildlifeIdentitySimplicity
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a conservation event, one could invoke this quote to emphasize the importance of preserving local wildlife.
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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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.
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That grand old poem called Winter
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