Meditations of Henry David Thoreau

Carry Henry David Thoreau’s wisdom with you in this inspirational guide that features 60 of his most insightful quotes.

Pencil-maker, surveyor, naturalist—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) wrote articles and essays that established him as America’s first great conservationist. As a 19th century man, Thoreau witnessed the Industrial Revolution, Westward expansion and its harbinger, the railroad, slavery, and Civil War. He stayed alert to the dynamics of human behavior, but Nature was his foremost wild laboratory for the soul.

In Meditations of Henry David Thoreau, editor Chris Highland pairs 60 Thoreau quotes with selections from other celebrated thinkers and spiritual texts. Take this pocket-size guide with you on backpacks, nature hikes, and camping trips. Let Thoreau’s words enrich your experience as you ponder the wilderness from riverbank, mountaintop, or as you relax beside your campfire.

Inside you’ll find:

60 inspiring Henry David Thoreau quotes

Selections of text from other philosophical minds

Short excerpts for convenient reading


As a preeminent social critic, Thoreau’s sense of social justice influenced Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. May this portable sampler of Thoreau’s help you discover your own light in the woods.