Walden and "Civil Disobedience"

"This was one of the great days; though the sky had from my clearing only the same everlastingly great look that it wears daily, and i saw no difference in it." P.128

(E) Regardless of how beautiful a day may be, the events that occur are what define it as great or not. I think that's what he means to say. That or no matter what happens, great day or not, the outside's always beautiful.

Walden and "Civil Disobedience"

"As i drew a still fresher soil about the rows with my hoe, i disturbed the ashes of unchronicled nations who in primeval years lived under these heavens, and their small implements of war and hunting were brought to the light of this modern day." P.126

(R) I think it's pretty cool that back then one only had to hoe their bean field in order to find native american artifacts and other tools and things of past residents. So many things have changed since then that it now takes more effort to find artifacts of the sort. If you did deep enough in your own back yard you'll only end up finding your own trash.

Walden and "Civil Disobedience"

"But here were two acres and a half of furrows, and only a hoe for cart and two hands to draw it.." p.125

(R) That's an interesting way to look at it. I like how he can relate things of different scales and show that they, at a very broad level, are essentially the same. He has a way of simplifying things by making them complex, by connecting them to other things in order to make something in your mind click and allows you to see or think in the manner that he did.

Walden and "Civil Disobedience"

"The pines still stand here older than I; or, if some have fallen, I have cooked my supper with their stumps, and a new growth is rising all around, preparing another aspect for new infant eyes." p.124

(R) He seems to be saying that the same pines he familiarized himself with when he was a child are still present in his life or have been present at some point, and that a completely new set of pines is getting ready to be viewed by a future generation. I think it's really amazing that two people, separated by time, can be present in the same place but have two completely different experiences and sights. And i also think it's pretty amazing that he sees it this way, i don't know how long it would have taken me to realize something of the sort.

Walden and "Civil Disobedience"

"What was the meaning of this so steady and self-respecting, this small Herculean labor, I knew not." p.123

(E) He recognizes that there is some type of significance to his labors, enough to compare them to Hercules' 12 tasks, but he can't seem to figure out what that is. His tasks were at first essential to his survival (hoeing a bean field) but he seems to have grown more than he needs, so he asks himself what is the meaning, or point, to doing all this.

Walden and "Civil Disobedience"

"The waste and decay of physical life, which so often needs repair, seemed miraculously retarded in such a case, and the vital vigor stood its ground." p.113

(R) I love the way in which he writes. It would be simple to convey the same message, although not as exact, by using much simpler language, but instead he writes in such a poetic fashion that you find yourself wondering if this came as easily to him as it seems. His writing style is very admirable.