Action

The wasps came by thousands to my lodge in October, as to winter quarters, and settled on my windows within and on the walls over-head, sometimes…

Every man looks at his wood-pile with a kind of affection. I love to have mine before my window, and the more chips the better to remind me of my…

At length the jays arrive, whose discordant screams were heard long before, as they were warily making their approach an eighth of a mile off, and in…

Thus for sixteen days I saw from my window a hundred men at work like busy husbandmen, with teams and horses and apparently all the implements of…

I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which…

No face which we can give to a matter will stead us so well at last as the truth. This alone wears well. For the most part, we are not where we are,…

I do not say that John or Jonathan will realize all this; but such is the character of that morrow which mere lapse of time can never make to dawn.…

But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but _at once_ a…

How can a man be satisfied to entertain an opinion merely, and enjoy _it?_ Is there any enjoyment in it, if his opinion is that he is aggrieved? If…

If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth,—certainly the…

I do not hesitate to say, that those who call themselves abolitionists should at once effectually withdraw their support, both in person and property…

In the morning, our breakfasts were put through the hole in the door, in small oblong-square tin pans, made to fit, and holding a pint of chocolate,…

I have never declined paying the highway tax, because I am as desirous of being a good neighbor as I am of being a bad subject; and, as for…

I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation. I do not wish to split hairs, to make fine distinctions, or set myself up as better than my…

I believe that the State will soon be able to take all my work of this sort out of my hands, and then I shall be no better patriot than my…

We have in Italy, for example, the Duke of Ferrara, who could not have withstood the attacks of the Venetians in ’84, nor those of Pope Julius in ’10…

But in maintaining armed men there in place of colonies one spends much more, having to consume on the garrison all the income from the state, so…

I answer that the principalities of which one has record are found to be governed in two different ways; either by a prince, with a body of servants,…

The contrary happens in kingdoms governed like that of France, because one can easily enter there by gaining over some baron of the kingdom, for…

But when cities or countries are accustomed to live under a prince, and his family is exterminated, they, being on the one hand accustomed to obey…

Let no one be surprised if, in speaking of entirely new principalities as I shall do, I adduce the highest examples both of prince and of state;…

It is necessary, therefore, if we desire to discuss this matter thoroughly, to inquire whether these innovators can rely on themselves or have to…

To these great examples I wish to add a lesser one; still it bears some resemblance to them, and I wish it to suffice me for all of a like kind: it…

Because, as is stated above, he who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid…

Hence it is to be remarked that, in seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to…

And above all things, a prince ought to live amongst his people in such a way that no unexpected circumstances, whether of good or evil, shall make…

But coming to the other point—where a leading citizen becomes the prince of his country, not by wickedness or any intolerable violence, but by the…

Therefore, one who becomes a prince through the favour of the people ought to keep them friendly, and this he can easily do seeing they only ask…

The cities of Germany are absolutely free, they own but little country around them, and they yield obedience to the emperor when it suits them, nor…

And if it be urged that whoever is armed will act in the same way, whether mercenary or not, I reply that when arms have to be resorted to, either by…

And although ancient histories may be full of examples, I do not wish to leave this recent one of Pope Julius the Second, the peril of which cannot…

Therefore, let him who has no desire to conquer make use of these arms, for they are much more hazardous than mercenaries, because with them the ruin…

I wish also to recall to memory an instance from the Old Testament applicable to this subject. David offered himself to Saul to fight with Goliath,…

And there is nothing wastes so rapidly as liberality, for even whilst you exercise it you lose the power to do so, and so become either poor or…

Nevertheless he ought to be slow to believe and to act, nor should he himself show fear, but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity…

Now, concerning the characteristics of which mention is made above, I have spoken of the more important ones, the others I wish to discuss briefly…

But Pertinax was created emperor against the wishes of the soldiers, who, being accustomed to live licentiously under Commodus, could not endure…

I do not wish to discuss Heliogabalus, Macrinus, or Julian, who, being thoroughly contemptible, were quickly wiped out; but I will bring this…

Again, it much assists a prince to set unusual examples in internal affairs, similar to those which are related of Messer Bernabo da Milano, who,…

But to enable a prince to form an opinion of his servant there is one test which never fails; when you see the servant thinking more of his own…

On the other hand, to keep his servant honest the prince ought to study him, honouring him, enriching him, doing him kindnesses, sharing with him the…

I do not wish to leave out an important branch of this subject, for it is a danger from which princes are with difficulty preserved, unless they…

The previous suggestions, carefully observed, will enable a new prince to appear well established, and render him at once more secure and fixed in…

I compare her to one of those raging rivers, which when in flood overflows the plains, sweeping away trees and buildings, bearing away the soil…

Changes in estate also issue from this, for if, to one who governs himself with caution and patience, times and affairs converge in such a way that…

I conclude, therefore that, fortune being changeful and mankind steadfast in their ways, so long as the two are in agreement men are successful,…

Having carefully considered the subject of the above discourses, and wondering within myself whether the present times were propitious to a new…

And if, as I said, it was necessary that the people of Israel should be captive so as to make manifest the ability of Moses; that the Persians should…

With us there is great justice, because that war is just which is necessary, and arms are hallowed when there is no other hope but in them. Here…

And it is not to be wondered at if none of the above-named Italians have been able to accomplish all that is expected from your illustrious house;…

Notwithstanding this, his enemies drew near to him, and approached Fossombrone, where they encountered some men of the duke and, with the aid of…

And the duke succeeded so well in this that they sent Signor Pagolo to him to negotiate for a reconciliation, and they brought their army to a…

And that this might be effected the duke concluded a peace with them in which he confirmed their former covenants; he gave them four thousand…

Man is thus metamorphosed into a thing, into many things. The planter, who is Man sent out into the field to gather food, is seldom cheered by any…

In this view of him, as Man Thinking, the whole theory of his office is contained. Him Nature solicits with all her placid, all her monitory pictures…

Or, I might say, it depends on how far the process had gone, of transmuting life into truth. In proportion to the completeness of the distillation,…

If it were only for a vocabulary, the scholar would be covetous of action. Life is our dictionary.[52] Years are well spent in country labors; in…

Historically, there is thought to be a difference in the ideas which predominate over successive epochs, and there are data for marking the genius of…

Yet what was the import of this teaching? What did the preacher mean by saying that the good are miserable in the present life? Was it that houses…

POLARITY,[97] or action and reaction, we meet in every part of nature; in darkness and light; in heat and cold; in the ebb and flow of waters; in…