"A man is rich in proportion to..." - Quote by Henry David Thoreau
A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.
More by Henry David Thoreau
“If to chaffer and higgle are bad in trade, they are much worse in Love. It demands directness as of an arrow.”
“I fear that I have not got much to say about Canada, not having seen much; what I got by going to Canada was a cold.”
“I cannot but regard it as a kindness in those who have the steering of me that, by the want of pecuniary wealth, I have been nailed dawn to this my native region so long and steadily, and made to study and love this spot of earth more and more. What would signify in comparison a thin and diffused love and knowledge of the whole earth instead, got by wandering? The traveler's is but a barren and comfortless condition. Wealth will not buy a man a home in nature-house nor farm there. The man of business does not by his business earn a residence in nature, but is denaturalized rather.”
More on Wealth
“There are three classes of men; lovers of wisdom, lovers of honor, and lovers of gain.”
“The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.”
“Wealth brings with it its own checks and balances. The basis of political economy is noninterference. The only safe rule is found in the self-adjusting meter of demand and supply. Open the doors of opportunity to talent and virtue and they will do themselves justice, and property will not be in bad hands. In a free and just commonwealth, property rushes from the idle and imbecile to the industrious, brave and persevering.”
More on Simplicity
“Platitudes? Yes, there are platitudes. Platitudes are there because they are true.”
“The repugnance to animal food is not the effect of experience, but is an instinct. It appeared more beautiful to live low and farehard in many respects; and though I never did so, I went far enough to please my imagination.”
“Being with him was like toast and butter from the very beginning.”