On philosophy and Henry David Thoreau

This is a very short post, but I've stumbled upon some quotes and thoughts that I think need to be heard. The following three are taken from Walden:

1.) In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, though they should fail immediately, they had better aim at something high.

2.) While civilization has been improving our houses, it has not equally improved the men who are to inhabit them.

3.) Shall we always study to obtain more of these things, and not sometimes to be content with less?

I am especially fond of the first quote because it promotes idealism and determination. However, Henry David is not the only one who has philosophical thoughts from time to time. The following are my musings:

1.) If everyone has a fear of the unknown, does that mean we are always looking for a sense of security?

2.) Should someone have to earn respect and/or credibility in order for his/her opinions to be considered?

3.) If there is truth in all perceptions and everyone has a different view of the world, isn't everything in the world both true and false? Therefore, how could something be defined as true if there are an infinite number of possible interpretations?

What are your thoughts?