“If I could only own and only be allowed to read one book for the rest of my life, this one would be it. Line after line speaks to my soul. I think of Thoreau's spirit and his words when I feel my life going off track, or feel that I'm losing connection with the thngs that matter in life. Every edition I own of this book has scribbled marginal notations throughout such as "so true," and "so important." I'll just share one such passage, from the first chapter, "Economy": "The greater part of what my neighbors call good, I believe in my soul to be bad, and if I repent of anything, it is very likely to be my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well? You may say the wisest thing you can, old man--you who have lived seventy years, not without honor of a kind--I hear an irresistable voice whch invites me away from all that. One generation abandons the enteprises of another like stranded vessels." It's easy to get stuck in the past, to resent the movement forward of ideas, experiences, social accomodations. But it's wrong. ”
posted Friday, February 29 2008
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