None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Only nature has a right to grieve perpetually, for she only is innocent. Soon the ice will melt, and the blackbirds sing along the river which he frequented, as pleasantly as ever. The same everlasting serenity will appear in this face of God, and we will not be sorrowful, if he is not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Nature's innocence allows it to grieve, while highlights the cycle of life and renewal.
In this quote, Thoreau reflects on the profound connection between nature and the human experience of grief. He suggests that nature, being innocent and untainted by suffering, has the right to mourn perpetually, whereas humans should find solace in the inevitable renewal and continuity of life. The imagery of melting ice and singing blackbirds symbolizes the cyclical nature of existence, where sorrow eventually gives way to joy and serenity, urging us to find peace in the consistency of nature’s rhythms.
Themes
NatureGriefInnocenceSerenityRenewal
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about environmental preservation, one might quote Thoreau to emphasize nature's resilience.
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.
Henry David ThoreauRead
An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Henry David ThoreauRead
Have no mean hours, but be grateful for every hour, and accept what it brings. The reality will make any sincere record respectable.
Henry David ThoreauRead
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.
Henry David ThoreauRead
That grand old poem called Winter
Henry David ThoreauRead
Similar quotes
Nature is probably quite indifferent to the aesthetic preferences of mathematicians.
Alfred North WhiteheadRead
Rain, rain, and sun! A rainbow in the sky!
Alfred Lord TennysonRead
I'm not over-fond of animals. I am merely astounded by them.
David AttenboroughRead
Prize the natural spaces and shorelines most of all, because once they're gone, with rare exceptions they're gone forever. In our bones we need the natural curves of hills, the scent of chapparal, the whisper of pines, the possibility of wildness. We require these patches of nature for our mental health and our spiritual resilience.
Richard LouvRead
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Francis Of AssisiRead
For decades we have been living lives of abundance, with little regard for our natural resources or global health. But we are now facing hard choices in our energy policy. Future generations - my children and grandchildren, along with yours - will have to live with the decisions we make today. And so it is time for us to make some tough and - hopefully - smart choices regarding our energy use and production before it is too late.
John MccainRead