Q0266
“The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will…” — Henry David Thoreau (Walden, Economy)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Walden, Economy. Theme: life.
English
The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Walden, Economy 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
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.
Concepts in this quote
- Life
- Philosophy quotes about life ask what makes a life good, meaningful, or worth examining—questions that drive ethics, religion, and everyday decision.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Henry David Thoreau. (n.d.). The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0266
MLA: Henry David Thoreau. “The cost of a thing is the amount….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0266.
Chicago: Henry David Thoreau. “The cost of a thing is the amount….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0266.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The cost of a thing is the amount…”?
The passage is attributed to Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Economy. The archive attributes this English wording to Walden, Economy 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 life?
Life is both a biological fact and a practical project. Philosophers debate flourishing, suffering, mortality, and the standards by which a biography can be judged successful or wasted. This passage enters that discussion through life.