It’s the Fourth of July, and I feel about as American as Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), one of my heroes. This morning, I’ve been reading Walden. So I’d like to set out his words about reading:
With a little more deliberation in the choice of their pursuits, all men would perhaps become essentially students and observers…. In accumulating property for ourselves or our posterity, in founding a family or a state, or acquiring fame even, we are mortal; but in dealing with truth we are immortal, and need fear no change nor accident. The oldest Egyptian or Hindoo (sic) philosopher raised a corner of the veil from the statue of the divinity; and still the trembling robe remains raised, and I gaze upon as fresh a glory as he did…
Happy Fourth, everyone!
-J.F.
*Pen and Ink Sketch of Thoreau: Félix Valloton, 1896