Henry David Thoreau Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"To be awake is to be alive."

by:	Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American author, poet, philosopher, polymath, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and transcendentalist
Source:	in "Walden"
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Categories:	Conscience, Courage, Death, Education, Health, Knowledge, Proverbs, Truth, Wisdom
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Reader comments about this quote:

A certain darkness dulls the mind, heart, and senses of those that abide that which is outside the God of nature's endowment. That state of aroused awareness in harmonious cognisance with nature's noble being and liberty is truly to be fully alive. -- Mike, Norwalk 2
The questions to be posed are: To what is anyone awake? Of what is he, actually, aware? What is that constitutes an individual's being alive? Many there are who are nominally awake and apparently alive who are utterly unaware. -- Patrick Henry, Red Hill 2
This quote really speaks to old people of which I am one. -- Jim K, Austin 2
Inspiring, yes! Mike and Patrick Henry remind us that to be alive or awake is not necessarily to be aware. In context, though, awareness may have been considered a part of being awake. Nevertheless, I cannot be aware if I am not awake. "To be aware is to be alive." ? ;-) -- E Archer, NYC 1