Henry David Thoreau Quotes

When you are insane, you are busy being insane-all the time ... when I was crazy, that was all I was.

[defines a madman as] a man who preferred to become mad,in the socially accepted sense of the word, rather than forfeit a certain superior idea of human honor.

Common tyrants, and public oppressors, are not intitled to obedience from their subjects, by virtue of any thing here laid down by the inspired apostle.

There is no salvation in becoming adapted to a world which is crazy.

Here's the good news. If I realize that I'm insane, then I'm okay with it. I'm not dangerous insane.

Kings will be tyrants from policy, when subjects are rebels from principle.

I am not a madman or a nut.

Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do their bounds divide.

There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad.

What has commonly been called rebellion has more often been nothing but a glorious struggle in opposition to the lawless power of rebellious kings and princes

Throughout the history of mankind there have been murderers and tyrants; and while it may seem momentarily that they have the upper hand, they have always fallen. Always.

The tree of liberty could not grow were it not watered with the blood of tyrants

They (tyrants) should be attacked, not as ordinary enemies, but as assassins and rebellious brigands. Kings, aristocrats, tyrants, whoever they may be, are slaves in revolt against the sovereign of the land, who is the human race, and against the legislator of the Universe, who is Nature.

You can't shut me up with your cynicism. I warn you- you must realize in time that you are not a mighty despot before whom everyone trembles. I do not tremble before you, I will fight you if you force me to it.

It is authority that provokes revolution....

He who saith “thou shalt” to me is my mortal foe.

The human race consists of the dangerously insane and such as are not.

'Crazy' is a term of art; 'Insane' is a term of law. Remember that, and you will save yourself a lot of trouble.

Between incomprehensible and incoherent sits the madhouse. I am not in the madhouse.

The hand of Vengeance found the Bed To which the Purple Tyrant fled The iron hand crush'd the tyrant's head And became Tyrant in his stead.

I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.

The establishment, whatever rewards it gives us, will also, if necessary to maintain it's control, kill us

Neither can oath nor promise bind any such people to obey and maintain tyrants against God and against his truth known.

'Insanity... I like it."

Whoever lays his hand on me to govern me is a usurper and tyrant, and I declare him my enemy.