Famous Henry David Thoreau Quote 

"If you see a man approaching you
with the obvious intent of doing you good,
you should run for your life."

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LOL! How true.
 -- E Archer, NYC		 
He wrote a book (came at us with a book) was he trying to do us good or evil. He is being funny and cute here but not very thoughtful or true.
 -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas		 
 -- gdgca, windsor, on 
Oh yeah. That makes a hell of alot of sense.
 -- Me Again		 
I know a story about a man who worked with his best friend at an auto repair shop. One guy's shirt had a small fire on it when his cigarette ash lit some grease. The other guy grabbed what he thought was a bucket of water and threw it on him. Turned out to be gasoline. All Thoreau is saying is that the best intention doesn't always secure the best results. Now add the zeal of someone deciding that they know better, but not exercizing caution, and look out.
 -- Ken, Milford Pa.		 
This is especially true if he says ,"I'm from the government and I'm here to help you".
 -- jim k, austin		 
Ken how did the guy in the shirt make out in the end.
 -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas		 
Yep, LOL. I'm with jim on this one.
 -- Mike, Norwalk		 
He died.
 -- Ken, Milford Pa		 
cute and true.
 -- warren, olathe		 
If you are learning how to ride a horse, its inevitable that you will fall. The act of falling does not imply that you stay put on the ground until someone comes and helps you get up. The act of falling implies that you fall, you get up and try to ride the horse again and again and again until you master the art of horse riding. When I read this quote it makes me feel that I ought to be able to do things on my own and if someone comes to help me out, all I become is lethargic and lazy, and ultimately I will to that helper. The ultimate goal of populist is exactly the same. So one has to be careful!
 -- RKA, Wasilla, AK		 
Another great one! I also run for my life when they preempt a deal by saying, "I'm a Christian."
 -- RobertSRQ		 
What is the alternative? No one cares about you? Or they have the obvious intent of hurting you?
 -- Wondering, Smallville		 
When people do good and always want credit it scares the hell out of me. Our local VFW put a patriotic display in the local High School but had to make sure it was clearly marked Gift of the VFW. A local merchant advertises on TV preaching the gospel but makes sure his businees gets credit and is well displayed in the ad. Scary to me.
 -- Waffler, Smith, Arkansas		 
Sad that some do not get the obvious thought behind this great quote.
 -- warren, olathe		 
Thoreau, one of my favorites.
 -- Logan, Memphis, TN		 
Do philosophers right books in order to do us good, if so should we run from them and their books.
 -- Anonymous		 
Beware the helpful people - there are always strings attached!
 -- Sunny T, Richmond		 
My view of Thoreau is that one does good, not by trying to benefit another, but by following his own drummer. He interacts with others by a give-and-take that is mutually beneficial, rather than by altruism.
 -- Allen Weingarten, Monroe Township, NJ		 
Why couldn't an altruist help another? Surely feeding a hungry man is beneficial, as is protecting him from harm. Yet what is fundamental is that which an individual chooses for himself. So when another interferes, he will generally do harm. The altruist can provide worthwhile aid and direction, if another seeks it. Yet that is best done by mutual advantage.
 -- Allen Weingarten, Monroe Township, NJ		 
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