Step to the music you hear, however far away.

What it means

If you are out of step with everyone, you may simply hear a different drummer. Thoreau tells you to follow it anyway. Nobody has to ripen on someone else's schedule.

The source

"Step to the music you hear, however far away." Henry David Thoreau said it in Walden (1854), Conclusion. Written in English: Walden, 1854.

"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."

Original English (Walden, 1854), Walden (1854), Conclusion. Text read at gutenberg.org.

Who said it

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862). Lived two years in a cabin he built at Walden Pond and wrote Walden about it. His essay Civil Disobedience argued for refusing to cooperate with injustice.

Questions

What does "Step to the music you hear, however far away." mean?

If you are out of step with everyone, you may simply hear a different drummer. Thoreau tells you to follow it anyway. Nobody has to ripen on someone else's schedule.

Who said "Step to the music you hear, however far away."?

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862). Source: Walden (1854), Conclusion.

What is the original wording?

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 (Original English (Walden, 1854)). Written in English: Walden, 1854.

Is "Step to the music you hear, however far away." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"Step to the music you hear, however far away." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854), Conclusion, trans. Original English (Walden, 1854)). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/step-to-the-music-you-hear-however-far