# Quote — Henry David Thoreau, Walden

> There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root, and it may be that he who bestows the largest amount of time and money on the needy is doing the most by his mode of life to produce that misery which he strives in vain to relieve.

- Author: [Henry David Thoreau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau.md)
- Book: [Walden](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden.md)
- Page: 87
- 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: [evil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evil.md)
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-david-thoreau/walden/there-are-a-thousand

## 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)