orratherthebulkofthem，I
livedalone，inthewoods，amilefromanyneighbor，inahousewhichIhadbuiltmyself，ontheshoreofWaldenPond，inConcord，Massachusetts，andearnedmylivingbythelaborofmyhandsonly。
Ilivedtheretwoyearsandtwomonths。AtpresentIamasojournerincivilizedlifeagain。
Ishouldnotobtrudemyaffairssomuchonthenoticeofmyreadersifveryparticularinquirieshadnotbeenmadebymytownsmenconcerningmymodeoflife，whichsomewouldcallimpertinent，thoughtheydonotappeartomeatallimpertinent，but，consideringthecircumstances，verynaturalandpertinent。
SomehaveaskedwhatIgottoeat；ifIdidnotfeellonesome；ifI
wasnotafraid；andthelike。OthershavebeencurioustolearnwhatportionofmyincomeIdevotedtocharitablepurposes；andsome，whohavelargefamilies，howmanypoorchildrenImaintained。
IwillthereforeaskthoseofmyreaderswhofeelnoparticularinterestinmetopardonmeifIundertaketoanswersomeofthesequestionsinthisbook。Inmostbooks，theI，orfirstperson，isomitted；inthisitwillberetained；that，inrespecttoegotism，isthemaindifference。Wecommonlydonotrememberthatitis，afterall，alwaysthefirstpersonthatisspeaking。IshouldnottalksomuchaboutmyselfiftherewereanybodyelsewhomIknewaswell。Unfortunately，Iamconfinedtothisthemebythenarrownessofmyexperience。Moreover，I，onmyside，requireofeverywriter，firstorlast，asimpleandsincereaccountofhisownlife，andnotmerelywhathehasheardofothermen’slives；somesuchaccountashewouldsendtohiskindredfromadistantland；forifhehaslivedsincerely，itmusthavebeeninadistantlandtome。Perhapsthesepagesaremoreparticularlyaddressedtopoorstudents。Asfortherestofmyreaders，theywillacceptsuchportionsasapplytothem。Itrustthatnonewillstretchtheseamsinputtingonthecoat，foritmaydogoodservicetohimwhomitfits。
Iwouldfainsaysomething，notsomuchconcerningtheChineseandSandwichIslandersasyouwhoreadthesepages，whoaresaidtoliveinNewEngland；somethingaboutyourcondition，especiallyyouroutwardconditionorcircumstancesinthisworld，inthistown，whatitis，whetheritisnecessarythatitbeasbadasitis，whetheritcannotbeimprovedaswellasnot。IhavetravelledagooddealinConcord；andeverywhere，inshops，andoffices，andfields，theinhabitantshaveappearedtometobedoingpenanceinathousandremarkableways。WhatIhaveheardofBraminssittingexposedtofourfiresandlookinginthefaceofthesun；orhangingsuspended，withtheirheadsdownward，overflames；orlookingattheheavensovertheirshoulders“untilitbecomesimpossibleforthemtoresumetheirnaturalposition，whilefromthetwistofthenecknothingbutliquidscanpassintothestomach“；ordwelling，chainedforlife，atthefootofatree；ormeasuringwiththeirbodies，likecaterpillars，thebreadthofvastempires；orstandingononelegonthetopsofpillars——eventheseformsofconsciouspenancearehardlymoreincredibleandastonishingthanthesceneswhichIdailywitness。ThetwelvelaborsofHerculesweretriflingincomparisonwiththosewhichmyneighborshaveundertaken；fortheywereonlytwelve，andhadanend；butIcouldneverseethatthesemensleworcapturedanymonsterorfinishedanylabor。TheyhavenofriendIolaustoburnwithahotirontherootofthehydra’shead，butassoonasoneheadiscrushed，twospringup。
Iseeyoungmen，mytownsmen，whosemisfortuneitistohaveinheritedfarms，houses，barns，cattle，andfarmingtools；forthesearemoreeasilyacquiredthangotridof。Betteriftheyhadbeenbornintheopenpastureandsuckledbyawolf，thattheymighthaveseenwithclearereyeswhatfieldtheywerecalledtolaborin。Whomadethemserfsofthesoil？Whyshouldtheyeattheirsixtyacres，whenmaniscondemnedtoeatonlyhispeckofdirt？Whyshouldtheybegindiggingtheirgravesassoonastheyareborn？Theyhavegottoliveaman’slife，pushingallthesethingsbeforethem，andgetonaswellastheycan。HowmanyapoorimmortalsoulhaveImetwell-nighcrushedandsmotheredunderitsload，creepingdowntheroadoflife，pushingbeforeitabarnseventy-fivefeetbyforty，itsAugeanstablesnevercleansed，andonehundredacresofland，tillage，mowing，pasture，andwoodlot！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，thelaboringmanhasnotleisureforatrueintegritydaybyday；hecannotaffordtosustainthemanliestrelationstomen；hislaborwouldbedepreciatedinthemarket。Hehasnotimetobeanythingbutamachine。Howcanherememberwellhisignorance——whichhisgrowthrequires——whohassooftentousehisknowledge？Weshouldfeedandclothehimgratuitouslysometimes，andrecruithimwithourcordials，beforewejudgeofhim。Thefinestqualitiesofournature，likethebloomonfruits，canbepreservedonlybythemostdelicatehandling。Yetwedonottreatourselvesnoroneanotherthustenderly。
Someofyou，weallknow，arepoor，findithardtolive，aresometimes，asitwere，gaspingforbreath。Ihavenodoubtthatsomeofyouwhoreadthisbookareunabletopayforallthedinnerswhichyouhaveactuallyeaten，orforthecoatsandshoeswhicharefastwearingorarealreadywornout，andhavecometothispagetospendborrowedorstolentime，robbingyourcreditorsofanhour。
Itisveryevidentwhatmeanandsneakinglivesmanyofyoulive，formysighthasbeenwhettedbyexperience；alwaysonthelimits，tryingtogetintobusinessandtryingtogetoutofdebt，averyancientslough，calledbytheLatinsaesalienum，another’sbrass，forsomeoftheircoinsweremadeofbrass；stillliving，anddying，andburiedbythisother’sbrass；alwayspromisingtopay，promisingtopay，tomorrow，anddyingtoday，insolvent；seekingtocurryfavor，togetcustom，byhowmanymodes，onlynotstate-prisonoffenses；lying，flattering，voting，contractingyourselvesintoanutshellofcivilityordilatingintoanatmosphereofthinandvaporousgenerosity，thatyoumaypersuadeyourneighbortoletyoumakehisshoes，orhishat，orhiscoat，orhiscarriage，orimporthisgroceriesforhim；makingyourselvessick，thatyoumaylayupsomethingagainstasickday，somethingtobetuckedawayinanoldchest，orinastockingbehindtheplastering，or，moresafely，inthebrickbank；nomatterwhere，nomatterhowmuchorhowlittle。
Isometimeswonderthatwecanbesofrivolous，Imayalmostsay，astoattendtothegrossbutsomewhatforeignformofservitudecalledNegroSlavery，therearesomanykeenandsubtlemastersthatenslavebothNorthandSouth。ItishardtohaveaSouthernoverseer；itisworsetohaveaNorthernone；butworstofallwhenyouaretheslave-driverofyourself。Talkofadivinityinman！Lookattheteamsteronthehighway，wendingtomarketbydayornight；doesanydivinitystirwithinhim？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。Whatoldpeoplesayyoucannotdo，youtryandfindthatyoucan。Olddeedsforoldpeople，andnewdeedsfornew。Oldpeopledidnotknowenoughonce，perchance，tofetchfreshfueltokeepthefirea-going；newpeopleputalittledrywoodunderapot，andarewhirledroundtheglobewiththespeedofbirds，inawaytokilloldpeople，asthephraseis。Ageisnobetter，hardlysowell，qualifiedforaninstructorasyouth，forithasnotprofitedsomuchasithaslost。Onemayalmostdoubtifthewisestmanhaslearnedanythingofabsolutevaluebyliving。Practically，theoldhavenoveryimportantadvicetogivetheyoung，theirownexperiencehasbeensopartial，andtheirliveshavebeensuchmiserablefailures，forprivatereasons，astheymustbelieve；anditmaybethattheyhavesomefaithleftwhichbeliesthatexperience，andtheyareonlylessyoungthantheywere。Ihavelivedsomethirtyyearsonthisplanet，andIhaveyettohearthefirstsyllableofvaluableorevenearnestadvicefrommyseniors。Theyhavetoldmenothing，andprobablycannottellmeanythingtothepurpose。Hereislife，anexperimenttoagreatextentuntriedbyme；butitdoesnotavailmethattheyhavetriedit。IfIhaveanyexperiencewhichIthinkvaluable，IamsuretoreflectthatthismyMentorssaidnothingabout。
Onefarmersaystome，“Youcannotliveonvegetablefoodsolely，foritfurnishesnothingtomakeboneswith“；andsohereligiouslydevotesapartofhisdaytosupplyinghissystemwiththerawmaterialofbones；walkingallthewhilehetalksbehindhisoxen，which，withvegetable-madebones，jerkhimandhislumberingplowalonginspiteofeveryobstacle。Somethingsarereallynecessariesoflifeinsomecircles，themosthelplessanddiseased，whichinothersareluxuriesmerely，andinothersstillareentirelyunknown。
Thewholegroundofhumanlifeseemstosometohavebeengoneoverbytheirpredecessors，boththeheightsandthevalleys，andallthingstohavebeencaredfor。AccordingtoEvelyn，“thewiseSolomonprescribedordinancesfortheverydistancesoftrees；andtheRomanpraetorshavedecidedhowoftenyoumaygointoyourneighbor’slandtogathertheacornswhichfallonitwithouttrespass，andwhatsharebelongstothatneighbor。“Hippocrateshasevenleftdirectionshowweshouldcutournails；thatis，evenwiththeendsofthefingers，neithershorternorlonger。UndoubtedlytheverytediumandennuiwhichpresumetohaveexhaustedthevarietyandthejoysoflifeareasoldasAdam。Butman’scapacitieshaveneverbeenmeasured；norarewetojudgeofwhathecandobyanyprecedents，solittlehasbeentried。Whateverhavebeenthyfailureshitherto，“benotafflicted，mychild，forwhoshallassigntotheewhatthouhastleftundone？“
Wemighttryourlivesbyathousandsimpletests；as，forinstance，thatthesamesunwhichripensmybeansilluminesatonceasystemofearthslikeours。IfIhadrememberedthisitwouldhavepreventedsomemistakes。ThiswasnotthelightinwhichI
hoedthem。Thestarsaretheapexesofwhatwonderfultriangles！
Whatdistantanddifferentbeingsinthevariousmansionsoftheuniversearecontemplatingthesameoneatthesamemoment！Natureandhumanlifeareasvariousasourseveralconstitutions。Whoshallsaywhatprospectlifeofferstoanother？Couldagreatermiracletakeplacethanforustolookthrougheachother’seyesforaninstant？Weshouldliveinalltheagesoftheworldinanhour；
ay，inalltheworldsoftheages。History，Poetry，Mythology！——I
knowofnoreadingofanother’sexperiencesostartlingandinformingasthiswouldbe。
ThegreaterpartofwhatmyneighborscallgoodIbelieveinmysoultobebad，andifIrepentofanything，itisverylikelytobemygoodbehavior。WhatdemonpossessedmethatIbehavedsowell？
Youmaysaythewisestthingyoucan，oldman——youwhohavelivedseventyyears，notwithouthonorofakind——Ihearanirresistiblevoicewhichinvitesmeawayfromallthat。Onegenerationabandonstheenterprisesofanotherlikestrandedvessels。
Ithinkthatwemaysafelytrustagooddealmorethanwedo。
Wemaywaivejustsomuchcareofourselvesaswehonestlybestowelsewhere。Natureisaswelladaptedtoourweaknessastoourstrength。Theincessantanxietyandstrainofsomeisawell-nighincurableformofdisease。Wearemadetoexaggeratetheimportanceofwhatworkwedo；andyethowmuchisnotdonebyus！or，whatifwehadbeentakensick？Howvigilantweare！determinednottolivebyfaithifwecanavoidit；allthedaylongonthealert，atnightweunwillinglysayourprayersandcommitourselvestouncertainties。Sothoroughlyandsincerelyarewecompelledtolive，reverencingourlife，anddenyingthepossibilityofchange。
Thisistheonlyway，wesay；butthereareasmanywaysastherecanbedrawnradiifromonecentre。Allchangeisamiracletocontemplate；butitisamiraclewhichistakingplaceeveryinstant。Confuciussaid，“Toknowthatweknowwhatweknow，andthatwedonotknowwhatwedonotknow，thatistrueknowledge。“
Whenonemanhasreducedafactoftheimaginationtobeafacttohisunderstanding，Iforeseethatallmenatlengthestablishtheirlivesonthatbasis。
