“Chastity is the flowering of man; and what are called Genius, Heroism, Holiness, and the like, are but various fruits which succeed it”
Analysis
In this quote, Henry David Thoreau suggests that chastity, or purity, is the foundation upon which other admirable qualities such as genius, heroism, and holiness can blossom. Thoreau is emphasizing the importance of maintaining moral integrity and self-discipline in order to achieve greatness in other aspects of life. By highlighting chastity as the essential starting point for personal growth and success, Thoreau stresses the significance of inner virtue before outward manifestations of excellence can be achieved.
The Importance of Chastity in Modern Society
Henry David Thoreau's quote about chastity being the foundation for qualities such as genius, heroism, and holiness holds a modern relevance in our society today. While the concept of chastity may not be as commonly discussed or valued as it once was, its importance in shaping one's character and moral integrity remains significant. In a world where instant gratification and moral relativism are prevalent, Thoreau's words serve as a reminder of the importance of self-control, virtue, and ethical behavior.
Thoreau on Chastity
"“Chastity is the flowering of man; and what are called Genius, Heroism, Holiness, and the like, are but various fruits which succeed it” - Henry David Thoreau"
This quote by Henry David Thoreau highlights the importance of chastity as the foundation for other virtues such as genius, heroism, and holiness. Thoreau suggests that chastity is the root from which these virtues grow, emphasizing the significance of purity and self-restraint in cultivating a virtuous character.
Reflection Questions
Reflecting on Henry David Thoreau's statement about chastity being the foundation from which other virtues grow, consider the following questions:
- How does practicing chastity contribute to the development of other virtues such as genius, heroism, and holiness?
- In what ways can chastity be seen as a foundational virtue in one's personal growth and development?
- Have you observed examples in your own life or in the lives of others where chastity has influenced the expression of other virtues?
- How can a focus on chastity help to cultivate a sense of inner strength and integrity?
- Do you agree with Thoreau's assertion that chastity is the "flowering of man"? Why or why not?
Similar quotes
“Chastity and moral purity were qualities McCandless mulled over long and often. Indeed, one of the books found in the bus with his remains was a collection of stories that included Tol¬stoy’s “The Kreutzer Sonata,” in which the nobleman-turned-ascetic denounces “the demands of the flesh.” Several such passages are starred and highlighted in the dog-eared text, the margins filled with cryptic notes printed in McCandless’s distinc¬tive hand. And in the chapter on “Higher Laws” in Thoreau’s Walden, a copy of which was also discovered in the bus, McCand¬less circled “Chastity is the flowering of man; and what are called Genius, Heroism, Holiness, and the like, are but various fruits which succeed it.”We Americans are titillated by sex, obsessed by it, horrified by it. When an apparently healthy person, especially a healthy young man, elects to forgo the enticements of the flesh, it shocks us, and we leer. Suspicions are aroused.McCandless’s apparent sexual innocence, however, is a corol¬lary of a personality type that our culture purports to admire, at least in the case of its more famous adherents. His ambivalence toward sex echoes that of celebrated others who embraced wilderness with single-minded passion—Thoreau (who was a lifelong virgin) and the naturalist John Muir, most prominently— to say nothing of countless lesser-known pilgrims, seekers, mis¬fits, and adventurers. Like not a few of those seduced by the wild, McCandless seems to have been driven by a variety of lust that supplanted sexual desire. His yearning, in a sense, was too pow¬erful to be quenched by human contact. McCandless may have been tempted by the succor offered by women, but it paled beside the prospect of rough congress with nature, with the cosmos it¬self. And thus was he drawn north, to Alaska.”
“Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.”
“This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.”
“Here are fruits, flowers, leaves and branches, and here is my heart which beats only for you.”
“Keeping that man out of trouble was like trying to return a whore to chastity.”