There is some of the same fitness in a man's building his own house that there is in a bird's building its own nest.

- Henry David Thoreau, Walden  

Late 19th-Century nail from Henry David Thoreau's birthplace. This nail was used in later renovations after the house was moved on the farm.

As a carpenter's nails are divided into wrought nails and cut nails; so mankind may be similarly divided. Little Flask was one of the wrought ones; made to clinch tight and last long. 

- Herman Melville, Moby Dick