# Quote — Henry David Thoreau, Walden

> Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it was already but too easy to arrive at.

- Author: [Henry David Thoreau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau.md)
- Book: [Walden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden.md)
- Page: 60
- 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/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden/our-inventions-are

## 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)