The first author I have to read for my writing class is Thoreau. I'm reading his essay on Walking. I have mixed feelings about Thoreau. Part of me wishes I could subscribe to his philosophy of running off to the woods to grow my own food and live life fully. Another part of me thinks this is an overly idealistic perspective on life and wonders why the American psyche is so fascinated with running off to the woods. (This is part of what drives me crazy about living with my brain.)
But I was given several great quotes from my ESL trainers, and one of them is from Thoreau. And when I read it, I remembered why I have enjoyed reading the bits of Thoreau's writing that have come my way. I hope I enjoy the essay on Walking as much as this quote.
"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a stature, and so to make a few things beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of the arts. Every person is tasked to make his life, even in its details, worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour....I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could live what was not life, living is so dear, nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life...
-from On Walden Pond
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