“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover I had not lived …”- Henry David Thoreau
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"I learned this, at least, by my experiment, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."- Henry David Thoreau, Walden
‘Henry David Thoreau was a true child of nature. He appreciated the natural environment on a deep level, finding spiritual replenishment and inspiration in his lengthy walks each day. Henry pursued his own ideals in every aspect of his life. He moved to Walden Pond as an experiment in living simply and deliberately, while taking ample time for writing, walking, and observing nature.’ -Photo:bing.com
Original title page of Walden featuring a picture drawn by Thoreau's sister Sophia.
‘When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only. I lived there two years and two months.’ (Walden, 3)
“With these words, Henry David Thoreau began the tale of his experiment of simple living at Walden Pond. Over the course of the next three hundred-odd pages, Thoreau outlined his philosophy of life, politics, and nature, laying the foundation for a secure place in the canon of great American writers. Although Walden enjoyed only moderate success in Thoreau's lifetime, his experiment at the pond would spark considerable interest in the years to come. The book has inspired other young people to follow his example and retire to a lonely spot--even if only in imagination--to ponder the world and their place in it. Thoreau's words expressed the concerns of many of his contemporaries as industrialization and war permanently altered the world around them, just as they struck a chord in a generation of young people in the 1960s and 1970s who opposed the modern military-industrial complex and sought peace and simplicity in their lives. For many, Walden has served as a touchstone.”…Continue to read...Reflections on Walden
Henry Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond
Why I went to the Woods
And now read a few stories of the people who have been inspired by ‘I went to the woods to live deliberately’:
“The woods” has always been a place I go to get away — somewhere to collect my thoughts, to quiet my mind, to connect with the earth and my place within the larger society of living things…
And so, inspired by Thoreau’s own life in the woods, I have come “to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived…to put to rout all that was not life…or, if it were sublime, to know it by experience.”…Continue to read
Reflections from 4 years of attempting to live a more deliberate life:
There’s a Henry David Thoreau quote that has narrated my journey since I began wandering — physically, professionally, philosophically — four years ago.
A couple months ago Thoreau’s words magically entered my periphery once again, but in an unlikely place: my daily commute in London. I didn’t notice them at first. Walked straight past. Alone in the subway hall, I back-peddled slowly, leaned my head to the side and breathed a curious “Huh.”…Continue to read
Live Deliberately: A Reflection On Thoreau
‘In high school, I remember an event held at a local nature preserve that forever changed the way that I thought about living. Perhaps that was the moment I discovered the value of time and–similarly–the value of life. It means one thing to be alive, it means another to live.’…Continue to read
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...
‘Walking in the woods or along a lake path is the best ‘me time’. When I’m in nature I notice that I’m more optimistic, calm, happy and ruminate less on life’s hardships and difficulties. Scientific research may be able to give physiological explanations as to why I experience increased wellbeing from my visits but I’m pragmatic–it’s my test. I want to experience what walking in nature does for me without “knowing” before I do it.’…Continue to read
What is this life all about?
Why am I here? What’s my Life’s purpose? How can I make the most of my Life?
The Wisdom Corner
For more inspiration see: The Wisdom Corner
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”-Frank Lloyd Wright
We will be delighted to have you with us at our Tuscany Conference in 2018. Please come and share your love of nature with us all
Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative
And
School of Economic Science
Fourth Joint Conference
28 August-1 September 2018