3.14.2008

Loving Living
Thoreau's Journal: 13-Mar-1853

You must get your living by loving. To be supported by the charity of friends or a governmental pension is to go into the almshouse. To inherit property is not to be born,—is to be still-born rather.

12 comments:

Southern Belle said...

I think that this blog is saying that if you do things good intentions, you will become successful. Even if you don't get what you want, you will still be rewarded in some way.

Unknown said...

Thoreau is saying that in order to live life to the fullest, the ability to love is a necesity. Without love where would the world be today?

Next, according to Thoreau, going through life mooching off of everyone a. k. a. your "friends" will get you no where. Making a living for yourself is much more rewarding than to just "borrow" you way through.

Lastly, Thoreau talks about inheriting property. I am not quite sure what he is trying to say but this is what i think: In my opinion, he is saying property inherited is not earned therefore, in the working category (those who wrok for land) the receiver of the land is "to be still born."

matt mercer said...

I like this quote in the fact that the way you live is judged by the way you love. What i think Thoreauu is trying to say is the if you love everything abd you are nice to everyone then you will live a good life, and if you do not love then you will suffer your whole life. What Thoreau is saying about your friends giving you stuff for free is just like living in a poorhouse, or living greedily. And lastly he says by inheriting property you are not born but rarther born dead, and what i think this means is that to really "inherit" something in life you have to earn it by hard work, just inheriting something doesnt mean anything.

Unknown said...

In this journal entry, Thoreau's point is easy to understand. It is just as Jesus says in the Bible to love others as you love yourself. It doesn't matter what troubes may come your way, you just should live by this statement

Unknown said...

I think Thoreau is saying that in order to live life the right way and the way God wants us too, you must learn to love. Not only love others but love yourself as well. Even with love the world is still a cold and angry place, how much worse would this world be if love was completely non-existant?
Thoreau is also saying that you can't make your living off of other people, like the government or friends. You must learn to make your own living and work for yourself. How could someone feel like they've accomplished anything in life if all they've done is taken money from others without working for it?
When he talks about "inherited property" i think he's poitning fingers at those who come from a rich family where everything in handed down to them, and they don't have to work in order to live a good life.

Ashton Pace said...

I think that in this Thoreau is trying to say that love is the key to living a happy life. Without love nothing that you do is worthwhile. However, with love everything that you do has a meaning because you know that what ever happens to you will effect those who love you.

Kayley said...

I think that Thoreau is trying to say that life is what you make it. If you have a positive outlook, then you will have a happy life. It goes on to say that you shouldn't be a charity case for your friends and that you should work for what you earn.

ian said...

You should always be nice to everyone you meet because they will determine if they like you in the first 5 minutes.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Kayley, life is what you make it. If you are nice in return people will be inface nice to you. You can't go through life as a scrouge, beacuse in return life will pretty muck be awful.

Anonymous said...

I agree with part of what you are saying abigail. I think if you live a life where you are nice to everyone than you should have a good one. Not everyone will be nice to you along the way, but if you are nice and positive than you will be happy and successful. The people that wont be nice are just obstacles throughout the way.

Kevin said...

I agree with taylor. I think this quote is saying that you should do all things with good intentions. If one does this and loves he shall be successful. I also agree that to live one must love.

heatherh said...

I agree with Taylor on this blog. If you start something with bad intentions then you will get no reward. Maybe karma but I don’t think anybody wants that. If you look at a lot of things in a positive light, you’ll be happier.