"Walden" Reading Notes

"Walden" Reading Notes#

Author: Henry David Thoreau
Reading Duration: 3 hours

These are the notes and excerpts I recorded while reading "Walden" on WeChat Reading.

Introduction One: Me and Thoreau#

The ancient Greek Thales once expressed to the world: "As long as philosophers are willing, it is easy to become wealthy, but their ambitions belong to another kind."

Introduction Two: A Brief Biography of Thoreau#

"If you do not find the land beneath your feet more lovely than this world—or any other place in the world, I think there can be no hope for you.

In fact, now is the time of my birth, and only now is my prime; I have no doubt about that silent love, which is not bought by my worth or desire, it has pursued me from youth to old age, it leads me and brings me to this evening.

A person who morally transcends his fellow citizens is no longer part of that city; their laws do not apply to him, for he is his own law.

"If you do not find the land beneath your feet more lovely than this world—or any other place in the world, I think there can be no hope for you.

In fact, now is the time of my birth, and only now is my prime; I have no doubt about that silent love, which is not bought by my worth or desire, it has pursued me from youth to old age, it leads me and brings me to this evening.

A person who morally transcends his fellow citizens is no longer part of that city; their laws do not apply to him, for he is his own law.

Economic Chapter#

There is no entertainment in such games, for entertainment comes with work. It is wise to refrain from desperate actions.

You may say the smartest things you can say—having lived for seventy years and having some honor—but I hear an irresistible voice telling me not to follow what you say. One generation abandons the pursuits of another, just like leaving a stranded ship.

A person can only become a fair and impartial observer when standing in what we call the superior position of sweet poverty and joyful suffering.

There are some people who complain passionately and endlessly, because according to their own words, they are fulfilling their duty. I also think of those who seem wealthy but are actually the poorest of all; they accumulate a pile of odds and ends but do not know how to utilize or dispose of them, resulting in golden shackles and silver chains, forged by themselves to wear.

What he considers worthy of respect is not what is truly respectable, but what is respected.

This indicates a significant difference between civilized people and savages; undoubtedly, they expend this effort for our benefit, turning the life of civilized people into a system, largely absorbing personal lives, with the aim of maintaining and perfecting the life of the race.

Chapman sings well: "This hypocritical human society—dimming the joys of heaven for the greatness of the earthly."

If what civilized people pursue is not more valuable than what savages pursue, if they spend most of their lives seeking coarse necessities and pleasures, then why must they live better than savages?

Undoubtedly, others can think for me; but that does not mean it is desirable for others to do my thinking for me.

The painter knows that the most interesting homes in this country are usually the unadorned, simple wooden houses and cottages of the poor; the home is the shell of the resident, and what gives the house its charm is the life of the residents, not just any unique decoration on the surface of the house; the boxy little houses built by citizens in the suburbs can also be equally interesting, as long as their lives are simple, fitting with imagination, without desperately pursuing the style effect of their homes.

They should not merely play at life or only study life, while society must support them in this expensive game; they should live sincerely from beginning to end.

When people, with the help of oxen and horses, begin to do work that is not only unnecessary or artistic but also luxurious and useless, an inevitable situation arises: some people are always exchanging work with oxen, or, in other words, becoming slaves to the strong. In this way, people not only work for the beasts within but also, as a symbol of this, they must work for the beasts outside.

In short, based on faith and experience, I am convinced that as long as we live simply and wisely, seeking independence in this world is not a hardship but a pleasure; just as some simpler nations find their daily work to be the entertainment of more complex nations.

I hope there will be as many different kinds of people in the world as possible, but I hope everyone can carefully seek and pursue their own path, rather than following the old paths of their fathers, mothers, or neighbors.

The person who spends a lot of time and money on poverty alleviation is precisely the one who greatly creates suffering with his own way of life, a suffering he wishes to eliminate but to no avail.

What we should impart to humanity is our courage, not despair; our health and comfort, not disease, and be mindful not to let disease spread. From which southern plain did the wailing arise? In which latitude do some pagans live whom we should send light to? Who are the indulgent and cruel beings we must rescue?

I believe that what worries a reformer is not sympathy for his poor fellow beings, but his personal troubles, even though he is the most devout child of God.

They once asked a philosopher: Many famous trees created by the supreme God tower over the earth, yet none are called azad, or free, except for the barren cedar; what is the mystery here? He replied: Every tree has its appropriate maturity period and specific season, during which it is vibrant and blooms, but after the season, it withers and fades; the cedar is not like this; it is evergreen and lush; azad or religious independents belong to this nature. — Do not pour your heart into transient things; the Tigris River will continue to flow through Baghdad even after the extinction of the caliphs: if you have plenty at hand, be generous like the date tree; but if you cannot offer anything to others, then become azad or a free person, like the cedar.

In such games, there is no entertainment, for entertainment comes with work. It is wise to refrain from desperate actions.

You may say the smartest things you can say—having lived for seventy years and having some honor—but I hear an irresistible voice telling me not to follow what you say. One generation abandons the pursuits of another, just like leaving a stranded ship.

A person can only become a fair and impartial observer when standing in what we call the superior position of sweet poverty and joyful suffering.

There are some people who complain passionately and endlessly, because according to their own words, they are fulfilling their duty. I also think of those who seem wealthy but are actually the poorest of all; they accumulate a pile of odds and ends but do not know how to utilize or dispose of them, resulting in golden shackles and silver chains, forged by themselves to wear.

What he considers worthy of respect is not what is truly respectable, but what is respected.

This indicates a significant difference between civilized people and savages; undoubtedly, they expend this effort for our benefit, turning the life of civilized people into a system, largely absorbing personal lives, with the aim of maintaining and perfecting the life of the race.

Chapman sings well: "This hypocritical human society—dimming the joys of heaven for the greatness of the earthly."

If what civilized people pursue is not more valuable than what savages pursue, if they spend most of their lives seeking coarse necessities and pleasures, then why must they live better than savages?

Undoubtedly, others can think for me; but that does not mean it is desirable for others to do my thinking for me.

The painter knows that the most interesting homes in this country are usually the unadorned, simple wooden houses and cottages of the poor; the home is the shell of the resident, and what gives the house its charm is the life of the residents, not just any unique decoration on the surface of the house; the boxy little houses built by citizens in the suburbs can also be equally interesting, as long as their lives are simple, fitting with imagination, without desperately pursuing the style effect of their homes.

They should not merely play at life or only study life, while society must support them in this expensive game; they should live sincerely from beginning to end.

When people, with the help of oxen and horses, begin to do work that is not only unnecessary or artistic but also luxurious and useless, an inevitable situation arises: some people are always exchanging work with oxen, or, in other words, becoming slaves to the strong. In this way, people not only work for the beasts within but also, as a symbol of this, they must work for the beasts outside.

In short, based on faith and experience, I am convinced that as long as we live simply and wisely, seeking independence in this world is not a hardship but a pleasure; just as some simpler nations find their daily work to be the entertainment of more complex nations.

I hope there will be as many different kinds of people in the world as possible, but I hope everyone can carefully seek and pursue their own path, rather than following the old paths of their fathers, mothers, or neighbors.

The person who spends a lot of time and money on poverty alleviation is precisely the one who greatly creates suffering with his own way of life, a suffering he wishes to eliminate but to no avail.

What we should impart to humanity is our courage, not despair; our health and comfort, not disease, and be mindful not to let disease spread. From which southern plain did the wailing arise? In which latitude do some pagans live whom we should send light to? Who are the indulgent and cruel beings we must rescue?

I believe that what worries a reformer is not sympathy for his poor fellow beings, but his personal troubles, even though he is the most devout child of God.

They once asked a philosopher: Many famous trees created by the supreme God tower over the earth, yet none are called azad, or free, except for the barren cedar; what is the mystery here? He replied: Every tree has its appropriate maturity period and specific season, during which it is vibrant and blooms, but after the season, it withers and fades; the cedar is not like this; it is evergreen and lush; azad or religious independents belong to this nature. — Do not pour your heart into transient things; the Tigris River will continue to flow through Baghdad even after the extinction of the caliphs: if you have plenty at hand, be generous like the date tree; but if you cannot offer anything to others, then become azad or a free person, like the cedar.

Supplementary Poems#

But we only establish the virtues that allow for indulgence, brave and generous actions, and solemn grandeur. Insight into all things, and infinitely noble friendship, along with a kind of heroic and mighty resolve, cannot be named; since ancient times, no name has been left, only types, like Hercules, Achilles, Theseus. Roll back to your damned hiding place; when you see a new civilized sky, you should strive to understand what is truly valuable.

The Place I Live, The Purpose of My Life#

For a person's wealth is determined by how much he can let go.

To enjoy these benefits, I am willing to bear it; like Atlas, the giant who holds up the sky—I've never heard of him receiving any compensation for it. Aside from being able to spend some money and then peacefully own this farm without disturbance, I have no other motive or excuse for doing all these things; I always believe that as long as I can let this land grow freely, it will surely produce the richest crops I need.

Going into the woods is because I hope to live a thoughtful life, just to face the basic facts of life, to see if I can learn what life has to teach me, and not wait until I am dying to find out that I have not lived. I do not wish to live a life that is not life; life is infinitely precious; nor do I wish to live a life of passive submission, unless it is absolutely necessary. I want to live deeply, to absorb all the essence of life, strongly and resolutely, like a Spartan, to eliminate everything that does not constitute life, to sweep it away vigorously, to clean it up thoroughly, to push life into a corner, to place it under the lowest conditions. If it is proven to be humble, then clarify and publicize the entire truly humble situation; if it is noble, then experience it, and make a true description in my next outing.

And he never dreamed that he himself lived in a deep, unfathomable black hole in the world, his eyes having long since degenerated.

Falsehood and deception are revered as the most reliable truths, while reality is regarded as a lie. If people only notice what is real and do not allow themselves to be deceived, then life, compared to what we know now, would be like myth and "One Thousand and One Nights."

Once we are calm and wise, we will realize that only those great and valuable things will eternally exist—trivial joys and sorrows are merely shadows of the truth. The truth is always uplifting and noble. People, by closing their eyes and dozing off, agree to be deceived by surface phenomena, which leads them to establish and solidify their daily life routines, which are still based on pure fantasy. Children, living in play, can more clearly discern the true laws of life than adults, who cannot live meaningfully, yet they think themselves smarter, simply because they have experience, which means they have failed.

People revere vague truths, things outside the system, behind the most distant celestial bodies, before Adam, after the extinction of humanity. There indeed exists truth and noble things in eternity. But all these times, places, and occasions exist here and now. God Himself is supreme at this moment, never becoming more sacred with the passage of time. Only by forever bathing and immersing ourselves in the reality surrounding us can we comprehend what is noble and grand. The universe often obediently aligns with our concepts; whether we walk fast or slow, there is always a path laid out for us. Let us devote our lives to the realm of ideas. Poets or artists have yet to propose a design so beautiful and noble that no one can realize it—at least some descendants will be able to achieve it.

Time is merely the river for me to fish in. I drink from the river, but when I drink, I see the sand at the bottom, discovering how shallow the river is. Its thin flow passes away and does not return, yet eternity remains.

For a person's wealth is determined by how much he can let go.

To enjoy these benefits, I am willing to bear it; like Atlas, the giant who holds up the sky—I've never heard of him receiving any compensation for it. Aside from being able to spend some money and then peacefully own this farm without disturbance, I have no other motive or excuse for doing all these things; I always believe that as long as I can let this land grow freely, it will surely produce the richest crops I need.

Going into the woods is because I hope to live a thoughtful life, just to face the basic facts of life, to see if I can learn what life has to teach me, and not wait until I am dying to find out that I have not lived. I do not wish to live a life that is not life; life is infinitely precious; nor do I wish to live a life of passive submission, unless it is absolutely necessary. I want to live deeply, to absorb all the essence of life, strongly and resolutely, like a Spartan, to eliminate everything that does not constitute life, to sweep it away vigorously, to clean it up thoroughly, to push life into a corner, to place it under the lowest conditions. If it is proven to be humble, then clarify and publicize the entire truly humble situation; if it is noble, then experience it, and make a true description in my next outing.

And he never dreamed that he himself lived in a deep, unfathomable black hole in the world, his eyes having long since degenerated.

Falsehood and deception are revered as the most reliable truths, while reality is regarded as a lie. If people only notice what is real and do not allow themselves to be deceived, then life, compared to what we know now, would be like myth and "One Thousand and One Nights."

Once we are calm and wise, we will realize that only those great and valuable things will eternally exist—trivial joys and sorrows are merely shadows of the truth. The truth is always uplifting and noble. People, by closing their eyes and dozing off, agree to be deceived by surface phenomena, which leads them to establish and solidify their daily life routines, which are still based on pure fantasy. Children, living in play, can more clearly discern the true laws of life than adults, who cannot live meaningfully, yet they think themselves smarter, simply because they have experience, which means they have failed.

People revere vague truths, things outside the system, behind the most distant celestial bodies, before Adam, after the extinction of humanity. There indeed exists truth and noble things in eternity. But all these times, places, and occasions exist here and now. God Himself is supreme at this moment, never becoming more sacred with the passage of time. Only by forever bathing and immersing ourselves in the reality surrounding us can we comprehend what is noble and grand. The universe often obediently aligns with our concepts; whether we walk fast or slow, there is always a path laid out for us. Let us devote our lives to the realm of ideas. Poets or artists have yet to propose a design so beautiful and noble that no one can realize it—at least some descendants will be able to achieve it.

Time is merely the river for me to fish in. I drink from the river, but when I drink, I see the sand at the bottom, discovering how shallow the river is. Its thin flow passes away and does not return, yet eternity remains.

Reading#

In accumulating wealth for oneself or future generations, in establishing a family or nation, or even in pursuing reputation, we are all mortals; but in our treatment of truth, we are immortal, without fear of change or unexpected events.

Sitting quietly and galloping in the spiritual world; I can gain this benefit from books. A glass of fine wine intoxicates; when I am immersed in the nectar of mystical teachings, I experience this joy.

The speaker, inspired by a moment of opportunity, speaks to a group of people before him, addressing those who can hear him; however, for a writer, a calmer life constitutes his opportunity, as the crowd and events that inspire the speaker can disturb him; the writer appeals to the wisdom and hearts of humanity, speaking to all who can understand him in any era.

In accumulating wealth for oneself or future generations, in establishing a family or nation, or even in pursuing reputation, we are all mortals; but in our treatment of truth, we are immortal, without fear of change or unexpected events.

Sitting quietly and galloping in the spiritual world; I can gain this benefit from books. A glass of fine wine intoxicates; when I am immersed in the nectar of mystical teachings, I experience this joy.

The speaker, inspired by a moment of opportunity, speaks to a group of people before him, addressing those who can hear him; however, for a writer, a calmer life constitutes his opportunity, as the crowd and events that inspire the speaker can disturb him; the writer appeals to the wisdom and hearts of humanity, speaking to all who can understand him in any era.

Voice#

At least my way of life is superior to those who must seek pleasure in society, in theaters, or in any case, outside; because my life itself has become my joy, and it never loses its novelty.

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