None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
All men are children, and of one family. The same tale sends them all to bed, and wakes them in the morning.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Everyone shares a common human experience, regardless of age or status.
Henry David Thoreau's quote reflects on the innate childlike qualities present in all humans, suggesting that no matter how different we may seem, we are connected through our fundamental experiences in life. The 'tale' symbolizes the stories and experiences that unite us, highlighting the shared nature of our existence and the cyclical nature of life, where we all begin and end each day in similar ways.
Themes
HumanityConnectionExperienceChildhoodFamily
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about human connection at a community gathering.
More from Henry David Thoreau
All quotes βThrough want of enterprise and faith men are where they are, buying and selling and spending their lives like servants.
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An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
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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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