Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau, (1817-1862) American author, poet, philosopher, polymath, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and transcendentalist

Famous Henry David Thoreau Quote

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau
~ Henry David Thoreau
(1817-1862) American author, poet, philosopher, polymath, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and transcendentalist
Walden (1854)

Apathy , Character , Collectivism , Conformity , Dependence , Fear , Hypocrisy , Obedience , Oppression , Power , Proverbs , Servitude , Subservience

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk
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Mike, Norwalk    6/19/09

I don't have personal knowledge of that mass but, within my censorial circle, the number is growing.

Anon
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Anon    6/19/09

Desperation is what causes men to seek other men to save them from it.

J Carlton, Calgary
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J Carlton, Calgary    6/19/09

And when quiet desperation becomes "nothing left to lose"....What then? We're definately heading in that direction too. The Bankers and Obama won't rest until we're destitute.

RBESRQ
  • Reply
RBESRQ    6/19/09

HDT you are giving the mass of men to much credit.

E Archer, NYC
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E Archer, NYC    6/30/09

Classic.

Ronw13, Yachats Or
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Ronw13, Yachats Or    7/31/15

Skeptical. It is interesting when people side with, as even I do when an observation is true, made by an individual today I would describe narrow minded, Thoreau, transcendentalist as the term is applied to their movement. Anti-intellectual enlightenment. Cities in the northeast even then, overrun with people dependent upon another for their own survival. I suspect that is the mass he refers to. Liberty denied always creates desperation.

Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown
  • Reply
    Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown    12/14/22

    Humankind struggles

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