# Quote — Henry David Thoreau, Walden

> A living dog is better than a dead lion. Shall a man go and hang himself because he belongs to the race of pygmies, and not be the biggest pygmy that he can? Let every one mind his own business, and endeavor to be what he was made. Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

- Author: [Henry David Thoreau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau.md)
- Book: [Walden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden.md)
- Page: 366
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau#Walden_(1854)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Topics: [success and failure](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/success-and-failure.md), [identity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/identity.md)
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden/a-living-dog

## More from this book

> Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star.

p. 375 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden/only-that-day.md)

> If I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life.

p. 85 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden/if-i-knew.md)

Topics: [freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom.md)

> Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.

p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden/most-of-the.md)