None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David ThoreauRead
As the skies appear to a man, so is his mind. Some see only clouds there; some, prodigies and portents; some rarely look up at all; their heads, like the brutes,' are directed toward Earth. Some behold there serenity, purity, beauty ineffable. The world runs to see the panorama, when there is a panorama in the sky which few go to see.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The way we perceive the world around us is shaped by our mindset and perspective.
This quote by Henry David Thoreau emphasizes the idea that individual perception profoundly influences one's experience of the world. He illustrates how different people look at the skies—some only see clouds and chaos while others appreciate the beauty and tranquility that exists. The quote suggests that our minds can either elevate our view of the world or confine us to a mundane existence, urging individuals to cultivate a broader and more positive perspective on life.
Themes
PerceptionMindsetBeautyNaturePerspective
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming adversity, one might use this quote to illustrate the importance of perspective.
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
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You see but your shadow when you turn your back to the sun.
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A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep in humility, thankfulness and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride.
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A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaRead