None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Instead of water we got here a draught of beer, a lumberer's drink, which would acclimate and naturalize a man at once,-which would make him see green, and, if he slept, dream that he heard the wind sough among the pines.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the deep connection between nature and human experience, suggesting that natural elements can profoundly influence our perception and dreams.
Thoreau's quote encapsulates the essence of nature's ability to transform our understanding and experiences. By comparing water with beer, he implies that nature offers a more profound nourishment for our souls, one that aligns us with our surroundings. The imagery of green landscapes and the sound of wind through the trees evokes a sense of serenity and connection to the earth, highlighting how the natural world can enrich our lives and alter our subconscious thoughts.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared at a nature retreat to emphasize the importance of connection with the environment.
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.
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
Similar quotes
And there are my cats, engaged in a ritual that goes back thousands of years, tranquilly licking themselves after the meal. Practical animals, they prefer to have others provide the food ... some of them do. There must have been a split between the cats who accepted domestication and those who did not.
I think that Canada is one of the most impressive countries in the world, the way it has managed a diverse population, a migrant economy. The natural beauty of Canada is extraordinary. Obviously there is enormous kinship between the United States and Canada, and the ties that bind our two countries together are things that are very important to us.
I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.
It were happy if we studied nature more in natural things; and acted according to nature, whose rules are few, plain, and most reasonable.
The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding.
In Kenya women are the first victims of environmental degradation, because they are the ones who walk for hours looking for water, who fetch firewood, who provide food for their families.