WhenIwrotethefollowingpages,orratherthebulkofthem,Ilivedalone,inthewoods,amilefromanyneighbor,inahousewhichIhadbuiltmyself,ontheshoreofWaldenPond,inConcord,Massachusetts,andearnedmylivingbythelaborofmyhandsonly.Ilivedtheretwoyearsandtwomonths.AtpresentIamasojournerincivilizedlifeagain.
Ishouldnotobtrudemyaffairssomuchonthenoticeofmyreadersifveryparticularinquirieshadnotbeenmadebymytownsmenconcerningmymodeoflife,whichsomewouldcallimpertinent,thoughtheydonotappeartomeatallimpertinent,but,consideringthecircumstances,verynaturalandpertinent.SomehaveaskedwhatIgottoeatifIdidnotfeellonesomeifIwasnotafraidandthelike.OthershavebeencurioustolearnwhatportionofmyincomeIdevotedtocharitablepurposesandsome,whohavelargefamilies,howmanypoorchildrenImaintained.IwillthereforeaskthoseofmyreaderswhofeelnoparticularinterestinmetopardonmeifIundertaketoanswersomeofthesequestionsinthisbook.Inmostbooks,theI,orfirstperson,isomittedinthisitwillberetainedthat,inrespecttoegotism,isthemaindifference.Wecommonlydonotrememberthatitis,afterall,alwaysthefirstpersonthatisspeaking.IshouldnottalksomuchaboutmyselfiftherewereanybodyelsewhomIknewaswell.Unfortunately,Iamconfinedtothisthemebythenarrownessofmyexperience.Moreover,I,onmyside,requireofeverywriter,firstorlast,asimpleandsincereaccountofhisownlife,andnotmerelywhathehasheardofothermen’slivessomesuchaccountashewouldsendtohiskindredfromadistantlandforifhehaslivedsincerely,itmusthavebeeninadistantlandtome.Perhapsthesepagesaremoreparticularlyaddressedtopoorstudents.Asfortherestofmyreaders,theywillacceptsuchportionsasapplytothem.Itrustthatnonewillstretchtheseamsinputtingonthecoat,foritmaydogoodservicetohimwhomitfits.
Iwouldfainsaysomething,notsomuchconcerningtheChineseandSandwichIslandersasyouwhoreadthesepages,whoaresaidtoliveinNewEnglandsomethingaboutyourcondition,especiallyyouroutwardconditionorcircumstancesinthisworld,inthistown,whatitis,whetheritisnecessarythatitbeasbadasitis,whetheritcannotbeimprovedaswellasnot.IhavetravelledagooddealinConcordandeverywhere,inshops,andoffices,andfields,theinhabitantshaveappearedtometobedoingpenanceinathousandremarkableways.WhatIhaveheardofBrahminssittingexposedtofourfiresandlookinginthefaceofthesunorhangingsuspended,withtheirheadsdownward,overflamesorlookingattheheavensovertheirshoulders“untilitbecomesimpossibleforthemtoresumetheirnaturalposition,whilefromthetwistofthenecknothingbutliquidscanpassintothestomach”ordwelling,chainedforlife,atthefootofatreeormeasuringwiththeirbodies,likecaterpillars,thebreadthofvastempiresorstandingononelegonthetopsofpillars,—eventheseformsofconsciouspenancearehardlymoreincredibleandastonishingthanthesceneswhichIdailywitness.ThetwelvelaborsofHerculesweretriflingincomparisonwiththosewhichmyneighborshaveundertakenfortheywereonlytwelve,andhadanendbutIcouldneverseethatthesemensleworcapturedanymonsterorfinishedanylabor.TheyhavenofriendIolastoburnwithahotirontherootofthehydra’shead,butassoonasoneheadiscrushed,twospringup.
Iseeyoungmen,mytownsmen,whosemisfortuneitistohaveinheritedfarms,houses,barns,cattle,andfarmingtoolsforthesearemoreeasilyacquiredthangotridof.Betteriftheyhadbeenbornintheopenpastureandsuckledbyawolf,thattheymighthaveseenwithclearereyeswhatfieldtheywerecalledtolaborin.Whomadethemserfsofthesoil?Whyshouldtheyeattheirsixtyacres,whenmaniscondemnedtoeatonlyhispeckofdirt?Whyshouldtheybegindiggingtheirgravesassoonastheyareborn?Theyhavegottoliveaman’slife,pushingallthesethingsbeforethem,andgetonaswellastheycan.HowmanyapoorimmortalsoulhaveImetwellnighcrushedandsmotheredunderitsload,creepingdowntheroadoflife,pushingbeforeitabarnseventy-fivefeetbyforty,itsAugeanstablesnevercleansed,andonehundredacresofland,tillage,mowing,pasture,andwood-lot!Theportionless,whostrugglewithnosuchunnecessaryinheritedencumbrances,finditlaborenoughtosubdueandcultivateafewcubicfeetofflesh.
Butmenlaborunderamistake.Thebetterpartofthemanissoonplowedintothesoilforcompost.Byaseemingfate,commonlycallednecessity,theyareemployed,asitsaysinanoldbook,layinguptreasureswhichmothandrustwillcorruptandthievesbreakthroughandsteal.Itisafool’slife,astheywillfindwhentheygettotheendofit,ifnotbefore.ItissaidthatDeucalionandPyrrhacreatedmenbythrowingstonesovertheirheadsbehindthem:—
Indegenusdurumsumus,experiensquelaborum,
Etdocumentadamusquasimusoriginenati.
Or,asRaleighrhymesitinhissonorousway,—
“Fromthenceourkindhard-heartedis,enduringpainandcare,
Approvingthatourbodiesofastonynatureare.”
Somuchforablindobediencetoablunderingoracle,throwingthestonesovertheirheadsbehindthem,andnotseeingwheretheyfell.
Mostmen,eveninthiscomparativelyfreecountry,throughmereignoranceandmistake,aresooccupiedwiththefactitiouscaresandsuperfluouslycoarselaborsoflifethatitsfinerfruitscannotbepluckedbythem.Theirfingers,fromexcessivetoil,aretooclumsyandtrembletoomuchforthat.Actually,thelaboringmanhasnotleisureforatrueintegritydaybydayhecannotaffordtosustainthemanliestrelationstomenhislaborwouldbedepreciatedinthemarket.Hehasnotimetobeanythingbutamachine.Howcanherememberwellhisignorance—whichhisgrowthrequires—whohassooftentousehisknowledge?Weshouldfeedandclothehimgratuitouslysometimes,andrecruithimwithourcordials,beforewejudgeofhim.Thefinestqualitiesofournature,likethebloomonfruits,canbepreservedonlybythemostdelicatehandling.Yetwedonottreatourselvesnoroneanotherthustenderly.
Someofyou,weallknow,arepoor,findithardtolive,aresometimes,asitwere,gaspingforbreath.Ihavenodoubtthatsomeofyouwhoreadthisbookareunabletopayforallthedinnerswhichyouhaveactuallyeaten,orforthecoatsandshoeswhicharefastwearingorarealreadywornout,andhavecometothispagetospendborrowedorstolentime,robbingyourcreditorsofanhour.Itisveryevidentwhatmeanandsneakinglivesmanyofyoulive,formysighthasbeenwhettedbyexperiencealwaysonthelimits,tryingtogetintobusinessandtryingtogetoutofdebt,averyancientslough,calledbytheLatins?salienum,another’sbrass,forsomeoftheircoinsweremadeofbrassstillliving,anddying,andburiedbythisother’sbrassalwayspromisingtopay,promisingtopay,tomorrow,anddyingtoday,insolventseekingtocurryfavor,togetcustom,byhowmanymodes,onlynotstate-prisonoffenceslying,flattering,voting,contractingyourselvesintoanutshellofcivilityordilatingintoanatmosphereofthinandvaporousgenerosity,thatyoumaypersuadeyourneighbortoletyoumakehisshoes,orhishat,orhiscoat,orhiscarriage,orimporthisgroceriesforhimmakingyourselvessick,thatyoumaylayupsomethingagainstasickday,somethingtobetuckedawayinanoldchest,orinastockingbehindtheplastering,or,moresafely,inthebrickbanknomatterwhere,nomatterhowmuchorhowlittle.
Isometimeswonderthatwecanbesofrivolous,Imayalmostsay,astoattendtothegrossbutsomewhatforeignformofservitudecalledNegroSlavery,therearesomanykeenandsubtlemastersthatenslavebothnorthandsouth.Itishardtohaveasouthernoverseeritisworsetohaveanorthernonebutworstofallwhenyouaretheslave-driverofyourself.Talkofadivinityinman!Lookattheteamsteronthehighway,wendingtomarketbydayornightdoesanydivinitystirwithinhim?Hishighestdutytofodderandwaterhishorses!Whatishisdestinytohimcomparedwiththeshippinginterests?DoesnothedriveforSquireMake-a-stir?Howgodlike,howimmortal,ishe?Seehowhecowersandsneaks,howvaguelyallthedayhefears,notbeingimmortalnordivine,buttheslaveandprisonerofhisownopinionofhimself,afamewonbyhisowndeeds.Publicopinionisaweaktyrantcomparedwithourownprivateopinion.Whatamanthinksofhimself,thatitiswhichdetermines,orratherindicates,hisfate.Self-emancipationevenintheWestIndianprovincesofthefancyandimagination,—whatWilberforceistheretobringthatabout?Think,also,oftheladiesofthelandweavingtoiletcushionsagainstthelastday,nottobetraytoogreenaninterestintheirfates!Asifyoucouldkilltimewithoutinjuringeternity.
Themassofmenleadlivesofquietdesperation.Whatiscalledresignationisconfirmeddesperation.Fromthedesperatecityyougointothedesperatecountry,andhavetoconsoleyourselfwiththebraveryofminksandmuskrats.Astereotypedbutunconsciousdespairisconcealedevenunderwhatarecalledthegamesandamusementsofmankind.Thereisnoplayinthem,forthiscomesafterwork.Butitisacharacteristicofwisdomnottododesperatethings.
Whenweconsiderwhat,tousethewordsofthecatechism,isthechiefendofman,andwhatarethetruenecessariesandmeansoflife,itappearsasifmenhaddeliberatelychosenthecommonmodeoflivingbecausetheypreferredittoanyother.Yettheyhonestlythinkthereisnochoiceleft.Butalertandhealthynaturesrememberthatthesunroseclear.Itisnevertoolatetogiveupourprejudices.Nowayofthinkingordoing,howeverancient,canbetrustedwithoutproof.Whateverybodyechoesorinsilencepassesbyastrueto-daymayturnouttobefalsehoodto-morrow,meresmokeofopinion,whichsomehadtrustedforacloudthatwouldsprinklefertilizingrainontheirfields.Whatoldpeoplesayyoucannotdoyoutryandfindthatyoucan.Olddeedsforoldpeople,andnewdeedsfornew.Oldpeopledidnotknowenoughonce,perchance,tofetchfreshfueltokeepthefirea-goingnewpeopleputalittledrywoodunderapot,andarewhirledroundtheglobewiththespeedofbirds,inawaytokilloldpeople,asthephraseis.Ageisnobetter,hardlysowell,qualifiedforaninstructorasyouth,forithasnotprofitedsomuchasithaslost.Onemayalmostdoubtifthewisestmanhaslearnedanythingofabsolutevaluebyliving.Practically,theoldhavenoveryimportantadvicetogivetheyoung,theirownexperiencehasbeensopartial,andtheirliveshavebeensuchmiserablefailures,forprivatereasons,astheymustbelieveanditmaybethattheyhavesomefaithleftwhichbeliesthatexperience,andtheyareonlylessyoungthantheywere.Ihavelivedsomethirtyyearsonthisplanet,andIhaveyettohearthefirstsyllableofvaluableorevenearnestadvicefrommyseniors.Theyhavetoldmenothing,andprobablycannottellmeanythingtothepurpose.Hereislife,anexperimenttoagreatextentuntriedbymebutitdoesnotavailmethattheyhavetriedit.IfIhaveanyexperiencewhichIthinkvaluable,IamsuretoreflectthatthismyMentorssaidnothingabout.
Onefarmersaystome,“Youcannotliveonvegetablefoodsolely,foritfurnishesnothingtomakeboneswith”andsohereligiouslydevotesapartofhisdaytosupplyinghissystemwiththerawmaterialofboneswalkingallthewhilehetalksbehindhisoxen,which,withvegetable-madebones,jerkhimandhislumberingploughalonginspiteofeveryobstacle.Somethingsarereallynecessariesoflifeinsomecircles,themosthelplessanddiseased,whichinothersareluxuriesmerely,andinothersstillareentirelyunknown.
Thewholegroundofhumanlifeseemstosometohavebeengoneoverbytheirpredecessors,boththeheightsandthevalleys,andallthingstohavebeencaredfor.AccordingtoEvelyn,“thewiseSolomonprescribedordinancesfortheverydistancesoftreesandtheRomanpr?torshavedecidedhowoftenyoumaygointoyourneighbor’slandtogathertheacornswhichfallonitwithouttrespass,andwhatsharebelongstothatneighbor.”Hippocrateshasevenleftdirectionshowweshouldcutournailsthatis,evenwiththeendsofthefingers,neithershorternorlonger.UndoubtedlytheverytediumandennuiwhichpresumetohaveexhaustedthevarietyandthejoysoflifeareasoldasAdam.Butman’scapacitieshaveneverbeenmeasurednorarewetojudgeofwhathecandobyanyprecedents,solittlehasbeentried.Whateverhavebeenthyfailureshitherto,“benotafflicted,mychild,forwhoshallassigntotheewhatthouhastleftundone?”
Wemighttryourlivesbyathousandsimpletestsas,forinstance,thatthesamesunwhichripensmybeansilluminesatonceasystemofearthslikeours.IfIhadrememberedthisitwouldhavepreventedsomemistakes.ThiswasnotthelightinwhichIhoedthem.Thestarsaretheapexesofwhatwonderfultriangles!Whatdistantanddifferentbeingsinthevariousmansionsoftheuniversearecontemplatingthesameoneatthesamemoment!Natureandhumanlifeareasvariousasourseveralconstitutions.Whoshallsaywhatprospectlifeofferstoanother?Couldagreatermiracletakeplacethanforustolookthrougheachother’seyesforaninstant?Weshouldliveinalltheagesoftheworldinanhouray,inalltheworldsoftheages.History,Poetr