desert dweller
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Power to the Peaceful...Hate does not create.
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Post by desert dweller on Sept 6, 2019 9:23:20 GMT -8
He left Waldon on this day, September 6th. Here are a few of the things he wrote.
As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.
Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it.
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.
The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.
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balzaccom
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Post by balzaccom on Sept 6, 2019 11:26:20 GMT -8
Those re some good things...
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Post by autumnmist on Sept 6, 2019 12:34:58 GMT -8
Perhaps it's time for another reading of Walden Pond. Those calming and soothing thoughts would be very appropriate now.
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swiftdream
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Post by swiftdream on Sept 6, 2019 13:56:41 GMT -8
I remember him lamenting all the voracious logging going on in his travel essay In the Main Woods.
Another good quote; beware of all enterprises that require new clothes
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 6, 2019 14:30:33 GMT -8
Funny, like so many that think they like Thoreau, I've never actually read Walden Pond, so recently bought it. Thoreau was a complicated and controversial person (aren't we all?)... I suspect he was half of what both his critics and fans think he was. Here's a good little article on him... newrepublic.com/article/123162/everybody-hates-henry-david-thoreau
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swiftdream
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Post by swiftdream on Sept 6, 2019 15:01:17 GMT -8
Funny, like so many that think they like Thoreau, I've never actually read Walden Pond, so recently bought it. Thoreau was a complicated and controversial person (aren't we all?)... I suspect he was half of what both his critics and fans think he was. Here's a good little article on him... newrepublic.com/article/123162/everybody-hates-henry-david-thoreauI’ve been very disappointed in the personal lives and the personalities of some authors I’ve met in person or read biographies but I like their writing quite a bit. As for Theroux I’ve known about him for many years that he sort of played roles and ran home to mommy so she could cook and feed him his meals. None of his travels were seriously long. I read Walden as a kid and took the inspiration and used that. Unlike Theroux I’ve always liked to have girlfriends around to share the adventures. And like my first grade teacher taught us, don’t believe everything you read. I was one of the attentive ones in her class.
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 6, 2019 16:41:39 GMT -8
I know you meant H.D.Thoreau, and though I’ve never read Walden (or Waldon), I’ve actually read several works by Paul Theroux! Regardless, your points are well made.
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swiftdream
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Post by swiftdream on Sept 6, 2019 18:19:55 GMT -8
I know you meant H.D.Thoreau, and though I’ve never read Walden (or Waldon), I’ve actually read several works by Paul Theroux! Regardless, your points are well made. Yes, excuse my faux pas. And spelling is not always my strong point as well as auto correct of Safari does some very strange things at times. I like you have read Paul Theroux too, all the train books, Patagonia, iron Rooster, Ghost Train and another through India think, the kayaking of The Happy Isles of Oceania, Pillars of Hercules, the walk around England, Dark Star Safari, My Secret Life, My Other Life, Ozone, Kowloon Tong, The Mosquito Coast, and probably a few more I don’t recall at the moment. Good author but I have met some that don’t appreciate his direct approach and sarcasm.
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Sept 6, 2019 19:21:33 GMT -8
As for Theroux I’ve known about him for many years that he sort of played roles and ran home to mommy so she could cook and feed him his meals. None of his travels were seriously long. I read Walden as a kid and took the inspiration and used that. Unlike Theroux I’ve always liked to have girlfriends around to share the adventures. The strength of the message is more important than the foibles of the messenger.
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echo
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Post by echo on Sept 7, 2019 9:25:13 GMT -8
It’s funny, this conversation has happened many times in Writer’s groups I’m in. For things like this that give you inspiration no matter if you would want to copy the author’s actual example, I think it’s ok to be understanding and take what you can use. People do that. They have higher goals and write out their ideals and then fall short. I love his writings and I’m good with that.
On the other hand, one of my favorite writers from my thirties, I took my time building a collection of her original books and read them, then reread several sections at various times, but when I read a court document of her daughter and other children accusing her of sexual molestation, I very much had a gut reaction that took months to react on. I had to throw them away, because even just having them in my house made me feel ill. Somehow there is a line where I can’t separate the artist from their work, and I’m still not sure it makes sense. I mean, those books were not me investing money that would go to her anymore, they were old and bought used in the first place.
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Travis
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Post by Travis on Sept 7, 2019 10:12:42 GMT -8
They have higher goals and write out their ideals and then fall short. Ah, a potent truth that is, and, in a nugget, the story of my life. If Thoreau was likewise inclined, many of us can still value his ideals.
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 7, 2019 10:19:47 GMT -8
On the other hand, one of my favorite writers from my thirties, I took my time building a collection of her original books and read them, then reread several sections at various times, but when I read a court document of her daughter and other children accusing her of sexual molestation, I very much had a gut reaction that took months to react on. I had to throw them away, because even just having them in my house made me feel ill. Somehow there is a line where I can’t separate the artist from their work, and I’m still not sure it makes sense. I mean, those books were not me investing money that would go to her anymore, they were old and bought used in the first place. Marion Zimmer Bradley...?
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Post by bradmacmt on Sept 7, 2019 10:20:21 GMT -8
The strength of the message is more important than the foibles of the messenger. Agreed.
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Post by autumnmist on Sept 7, 2019 15:24:15 GMT -8
echo, and Travis, I think it's not unrealistic to accept that many people don't meet their goals, but others do, and some exceed them. Sometimes it's difficult not to be too judgmental, not only of ourselves, but of others as well. Learning to accept that is I think a part of being human.
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echo
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Post by echo on Sept 7, 2019 16:49:45 GMT -8
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