Let us consider the way in which we spend our lives

7.13.2009

i am again finding good company with my old friend Henry David Thoreau. my dog-eared compendium of his writings have carried me through post garden afternoons on the porch, late winter evenings and bouts of GI distress. This past sunday i celebrated his birthday as a spiritual father to us all. his words are eternal; here are a few of my favorites:



"If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen."


Most men appear never to have considered what a house is, and are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think that they must have such a one as their neighbors have.


That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.

Men have become the tools of their tools.

Being is the great explainer.

Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion. What a man thinks of himself, that is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate.

When a dog runs at you, whistle for him.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.

Goodness is the only investment that never fails.

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.

40 comments:

  1. brilliant man

    great post, c

    thanks for this

    ¤ ¤ ¤

    /t.

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  2. I've spent many afternoons with his words floating in my head.Very soothing for the soul.

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  3. You made Thoreau's words timeless by combining them with images from your "vault". What a beautiful collection of words and pictures. Dani said it right, "very soothing for the soul." I will be back again to take it all in over and over.

    Thanks.

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  4. “You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.”

    He said so many brilliant, bang on things ... way, way ahead of his time. I'm so sorry to hear about your mother and your worries about her. Miss D and I send much love and peace your way. xo S.

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  5. As a slacker, he was brilliant. You have to be an artist of some sort to pull off being a slacker. If he'd just hung out in the woods and never written, he would have been nothing to us at all. So, the work of writing justified the walks in the woods...at least as far as the world outside of his head is concerned.

    BTW, who gave you that picture of me in my batman outfit?

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  6. I hope you find some peace of mind, anyway you can. Thinking about you.
    (are you doing Thoreau hair as well...)

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  8. /t: indeed he was. smart enough too, to come outta the woods to have dinner with his mom and let his aunt do the laundry. thats better than existing on grubs and wild mushrooms.

    dani: i believe you. your own writing is steeped in keen observation and love of the living world.

    boxer: you are too sweet. i was struggling to post at all. the vault -well, im about to delete all the weird rabbits now that theyve been posted in two years worth of easters. you are on my mind this week. hang in there girl.

    susan: you dont know how much i am working on that moment thing. im zombified. kinda going through the motions but not focused. thank you so much for the sweet thoughts.

    gnome: slacker! exactly what he knew he'd be called. say whatever you want -ive got a batman suit on! grrrrrrherhahaha

    shamy: thank you so much. youve been such a dear. i appreciate you so much. safe travels home.

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  9. "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. "
    CS Lewis said, when we come to the end of our lives we will discover that we've "Been in heaven, or hell, all along" I totally believe him. He might as well have been the last diciple as far as I'm concerned.
    Life is what we make it.
    I'm here for you...you know it. I'm close, close enough to feed chicks and you. And I miss you. Thank you for being such a dear freind to me~
    I will call you tomorrow~

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  10. I came back just to soak it some more. xoxoxo.

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  11. This is a lovely post sweet girl, beautiful thoughtful images too... I am pleased you have found so much comfort from the words of this great and wise man.
    A few of my favourites are here and this is another that you might like. ♡

    "If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs -- that is your successs."

    Henry David Thoreau

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  12. Hi chickory - I know you're going through some hard times. I love this, "Goodness is the only investment that never fails." You have lots of that in the bank, my friend. Thinking of you! xox Pam

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  13. His work needs be moved from the classic literature section of the library to modern philosophy. Maybe then he would be more widely read...although I was around during his '60's reemergence it seems as if the "kids" from that era got it all a bit twisted in their understanding and became the "industrious and enterprising citizen" instead of the ponderers and thinkers they desired to emulate.

    Just not enough acid going around I guess.

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  14. Great writer and a lovely tribute. Imagine, if we all attended to ourselves in such a way . . .

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  15. His "Walden Wildnerness" was within the city limits and 1 mile from his Mommy's house where he would often seek refuge if a squirrel frightened him.

    Sorry, Mr. Thoreau, but I invented living the TRULY simple life at one with nature.

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  16. When I get a chance, I should perhaps re-read both Walden and Walden II.

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  17. Well, now I know for sure you keep fine company up there in your personal reserve! I know it is Wednesday but I actually posted my MM Classic today, come on by and have a smile.

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  18. OMG, wonderful words that I need to re-read as well. But those PHOTOS.... divine.

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  19. Another average post.
    Used to be stimulating here.
    Now rather dull.

    xxxx

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  20. Why looky thar' Pup--I thinks I recognize that "anon" above. Reckon he jes' ain't happy unless thar's bloodlettin' on the blog.

    Lovely images here, 'specially the last.

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  21. ...Just because.. I have been reading through the beautiful comments you have left me at my blog over the past eleven months...you have been my sound advisor and protector and I wanted to let you know that along with Foamy you would make a great sister, something I have always wanted...
    I have been listening to your lovely voice on the Golden Ganesh it has the sound of 'sunshine and flowers', just like your sweet personality...don't worry I'm not 'gay' :-), just thought I would tell you how much I appreciate your friendship...thank you dearest chickory. ♡ xoxo

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  22. nicely done. makes me want to take a walk in the woods and be still. haven't read T in a long time.

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  23. Miss D and I are sending you & Trout much love from far away Nova Scotia. We're thinkin' about ya - lots. xo S.

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  24. Thinking about you this evening. :) Hope all is well.

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  25. I'm sending love~ because it conquers all.
    <3

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  26. wow so much wisdom and truth in this post! all well-said!

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  27. Yes dear Chickory, things are very quiet here at the moment I hope you are all well and OK?

    Much love Dianne. ♡ xoxo

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  29. Hey ! Thinking of you & Trout and if you have a moment come and take a walk with Miss D and I to our magical place. You'll love it there. Sending loads of love and peace. Susan & Winnie

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  30. Hi chickory - been quiet your way. I'm thinking about you, and hoping all is well. I miss your wonderful posts, and daily inspiration. Hugs and love to you - Pam

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    Ps. so inspirational!

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  32. Hi chickory - thinking of you, and sending you good wishes. Miss you!
    xo Pam

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  33. Chile', youse gone missin'? The veggie patch is keepin' ya too busy?

    Hopin' youse paintin' up a storm and eatin' fresh homegrown vittles.

    But we miss ya!

    (an thar's new back porch post)

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  34. Hi chickory - sending you hugs - xo Pam

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  35. I hope you're all OK sweetie, I miss you? xo

    Much love and hugs Dianne. xo ♡

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