Q0264
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it…” — Henry David Thoreau (Walden, Conclusion)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Walden, Conclusion. Theme: freedom.
English
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Walden, Conclusion and files it under Transcendentalism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) was an American essayist, naturalist, and political dissenter of the Concord Transcendentalist circle. Walden (1854) recounts deliberate life at Walden Pond; “Civil Disobedience” justifies refusal of unjust tax.
How to read this passage
Philosophers distinguish several ideas under the single word freedom. Negative freedom emphasizes non-interference; positive freedom emphasizes the capacity to act according to reasons, virtue, or authentic desire. This passage enters that discussion through freedom.
Concepts in this quote
- Freedom
- Freedom is among the most searched and most contested themes in philosophy: what it is to choose, to be responsible, and to live without illegitimate constraint.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Henry David Thoreau. (n.d.). If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0264
MLA: Henry David Thoreau. “If a man does not keep pace with….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0264.
Chicago: Henry David Thoreau. “If a man does not keep pace with….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0264.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “If a man does not keep pace with…”?
The passage is attributed to Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Conclusion. The archive attributes this English wording to Walden, Conclusion and files it under Transcendentalism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Henry David Thoreau mean by freedom?
Philosophers distinguish several ideas under the single word freedom. Negative freedom emphasizes non-interference; positive freedom emphasizes the capacity to act according to reasons, virtue, or authentic desire. This passage enters that discussion through freedom.