"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 1: Me and Thoreau#

Thales of ancient Greece 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 2: A Brief Biography of Thoreau#

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

In fact, now is the time of my birth; 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 any other place in the world—or in any other world—I think there is no hope for you.

In fact, now is the time of my birth; 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 not to do desperate things.

Old man, you may say the smartest things you can say—you have lived for seventy years and have had 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 just 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 duties. I also think of those who seem wealthy but are actually the poorest among all people; they accumulate a pile of odds and ends but do not know how to use or get rid of them, resulting in gold and silver shackles that they forge for themselves to wear.

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

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

Chapman sings well: "This hypocritical human society—diluting the joys of heaven for the greatness of the world until they vanish without a trace."

If what civilized people pursue is not more valuable than what savages pursue, if they spend most of their lives seeking crude 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 the thinking for me without allowing me to think for myself.

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 residents, 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 residence.

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

When people, with the assistance 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 constantly exchange work with oxen, or, in other words, become slaves to the strong. In this way, people not only work for the beasts within them but also, as a symbol of this, they must work for the beasts outside them.

In short, based on faith and experience, I am convinced that as long as we live a simple and intelligent life, 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 walking 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 rather than despair, our health and comfort rather than disease, and be mindful not to let disease spread. From which southern plain has the wailing voice risen? In which latitude do some pagans live to whom we should send light? Who are the indulgent and cruel people we must rescue?

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

They once asked a philosopher: "Many famous trees created by the Supreme God tower above and block the sun, 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 those fleeting things; the Tigris River will continue to flow through Baghdad long after the extinction of the caliphs: if you have plenty to spare, be generous like the date palm; 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 not to do desperate things.

Old man, you may say the smartest things you can say—you have lived for seventy years and have had 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 just 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 duties. I also think of those who seem wealthy but are actually the poorest among all people; they accumulate a pile of odds and ends but do not know how to use or get rid of them, resulting in gold and silver shackles that they forge for themselves to wear.

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

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

Chapman sings well: "This hypocritical human society—diluting the joys of heaven for the greatness of the world until they vanish without a trace."

If what civilized people pursue is not more valuable than what savages pursue, if they spend most of their lives seeking crude 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 the thinking for me without allowing me to think for myself.

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 residents, 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 residence.

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

When people, with the assistance 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 constantly exchange work with oxen, or, in other words, become slaves to the strong. In this way, people not only work for the beasts within them but also, as a symbol of this, they must work for the beasts outside them.

In short, based on faith and experience, I am convinced that as long as we live a simple and intelligent life, 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 walking 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 rather than despair, our health and comfort rather than disease, and be mindful not to let disease spread. From which southern plain has the wailing voice risen? In which latitude do some pagans live to whom we should send light? Who are the indulgent and cruel people we must rescue?

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

They once asked a philosopher: "Many famous trees created by the Supreme God tower above and block the sun, 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 those fleeting things; the Tigris River will continue to flow through Baghdad long after the extinction of the caliphs: if you have plenty to spare, be generous like the date palm; 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, the brave and generous actions, the solemn and grand spirit. The far-sighted insight into all things, and the infinitely noble friendship, along with that heroic and mighty fortitude, cannot be named; since ancient times, no name has been left, only types, like Hercules, Achilles, and 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 how wealthy a person is, it depends on how much he can let go of.

To enjoy these benefits, I am willing to bear it; like Atlas, the giant who holds up the sky—I've not heard that he received any compensation for it. Apart 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 clear away everything that does not constitute life, to sweep it away with a big knife, to carefully clean it up, to force life into a corner, to place it under the lowest conditions. If it proves to be humble, then clarify and make public the entire truly humble situation; if it is noble, then go 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 long since degenerated.

Falsehood and deception are revered as the most reliable truths, while reality is regarded as a lie. If people only notice the real things 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 truly exist eternally—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 is how they establish and solidify their daily life routines, which are still based purely on fantasy. Children, living in play, are better at recognizing the true laws of life than adults, who cannot live meaningfully, yet they think they are smarter, just because they have experience, which means they have failed.

People revere vague truths, things beyond the system, behind the most distant celestial bodies, before Adam, after the extinction of humanity. Indeed, there 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 and will not become 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 dedicate our lives to the conception 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 the river water, but when I drink, I see the sand at the bottom of the river, realizing how shallow the river is. Its thin flow passes away and never returns, yet eternity remains.

For how wealthy a person is, it depends on how much he can let go of.

To enjoy these benefits, I am willing to bear it; like Atlas, the giant who holds up the sky—I've not heard that he received any compensation for it. Apart 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 clear away everything that does not constitute life, to sweep it away with a big knife, to carefully clean it up, to force life into a corner, to place it under the lowest conditions. If it proves to be humble, then clarify and make public the entire truly humble situation; if it is noble, then go 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 long since degenerated.

Falsehood and deception are revered as the most reliable truths, while reality is regarded as a lie. If people only notice the real things 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 truly exist eternally—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 is how they establish and solidify their daily life routines, which are still based purely on fantasy. Children, living in play, are better at recognizing the true laws of life than adults, who cannot live meaningfully, yet they think they are smarter, just because they have experience, which means they have failed.

People revere vague truths, things beyond the system, behind the most distant celestial bodies, before Adam, after the extinction of humanity. Indeed, there 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 and will not become 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 dedicate our lives to the conception 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 the river water, but when I drink, I see the sand at the bottom of the river, realizing how shallow the river is. Its thin flow passes away and never returns, yet eternity remains.

Reading#

In accumulating wealth for oneself or future generations, in starting a family or establishing a nation, or even in pursuing reputation, we are all mortals; but in our treatment of truth, we are immortal, without fear of change, nor fear of the unexpected.

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

The speaker, driven by inspiration in a moment of opportunity, speaks to a group of people in front of him, to those who can hear him; but for a writer, a calmer life constitutes his opportunity, that crowd and events that inspire the speaker, instead disturb him; the writer appeals to the wisdom and hearts of humanity, speaking to anyone in any era who can understand him.

In accumulating wealth for oneself or future generations, in starting a family or establishing a nation, or even in pursuing reputation, we are all mortals; but in our treatment of truth, we are immortal, without fear of change, nor fear of the unexpected.

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

The speaker, driven by inspiration in a moment of opportunity, speaks to a group of people in front of him, to those who can hear him; but for a writer, a calmer life constitutes his opportunity, that crowd and events that inspire the speaker, instead disturb him; the writer appeals to the wisdom and hearts of humanity, speaking to anyone in any era who can understand him.

Voice#

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

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