5.06.2005

Thoreau's Journal: 06-May-1854

All that a man has to say or do that can possibly concern mankind, is in some shape or other to tell the story of his love,—to sing; and, if he is fortunate and keeps alive, he will be forever in love. This alone is to be alive to the extremities. It is a pity that this divine creature should ever suffer from cold feet; a still greater pity that the coldness so often reaches to his heart. I look over the report of the doings of a scientific association and am surprised that there is so little life to be reported; I am put off with a parcel of dry technical terms. Anything living is easily and naturally expressed in popular language. I cannot help suspecting that the life of these learned professors has been almost as inhuman and wooden as a rain-gauge or self-registering magnetic machine. They communicate no fact which rises to the temperature of blood-heat. It doesn’t amount to one rhyme.

1 comment:

Jack Saturday said...

Thank you so much for this wonderful treasure, which I just discovered. You can be sure I will read your entire archive, since I haven't read Thoreau's journals. Reading his work is like cupping handfuls of beautiful cut gems-- your labor on this project is not in vain by any means, it has made my day to discover it.

Best,

Jack