The Journal, 1837-1861
"Decayed literature makes the richest of all soils." - Henry David Thoreau, March 16, 1852
From "The Short Days of Winter"
March 4, 1852. It is discouraging to talk with men who will recognize no principles. How little use is made of reason in this world! You argue with a man for an hour, he agrees with you step by step, you are approaching a triumphant conclusion, you think that you have converted him; but ah, no, he has a habit, he takes a pinch of snuff, he remembers that he entertained a different opinion at the commencement of the controversy, and his reverence for the past compels him to reiterate it now. You begin at the butt of the pole to curve it, you gradually bent it around according to rule, and planted the other end in the ground, and already in imagination saw the vine curling round this segment of an arbor, under which a new generation was to re-create itself; but when you had done, just when the twig was bent, it sprang back to its former stubborn and unhandsome position like a bit of whalebone.
6 comments:
excellent quote... i read all of Thoreau years ago and bought his diaries as well; formed my current world-view in large measure... it's great to revisit a bit...
Interesting stuff. I have only read Walden and Civil Disobedience. I should dig into more of Thoreau‘s writings.
Mudpuddle,
Well, I haven't read all of Thoreau, but Walden, his journal, and some of his essays are among my favorites.
Brian,
What I've found in his Journals is that some of what ended up in Walden was written in the journal first. He's a tremendously thought-provoking thinker.
Yay! Another book I must add to my TBR or wishlist. I should have added this a long time ago.
Ruth,
Thoreau has many wonderful observations on life and nature in his journals. Some of the material shows up in his other works like Walden. I have found his journals to be an endless delight and would highly recommend them.
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