2.23.2008
Henry Savings Time
Thoreau's Journal: 22-Feb-1841
The whole of the day should not be daytime, nor of the night night-time, but some portion be rescued from time to oversee time in. All our hours must not be current; all our time must not lapse. There must be one hour at least which the day did not bring forth,—of ancient parentage and long-established nobility,—which will be a serene and lofty platform overlooking the rest. We should make our notch every day on our characters, as Robinson Crusoe on his stick. We must be at the helm at least once a day; we must feel the tiller-rope in our hands, and know that if we sail, we steer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
In my own perspective, I wish to be always in the present, not in the past nor future. But, most of the time our present getting passed by thinking of our future and past.
Used Audi Car Parts
it often seems as if we are passing life by worrying about what happened in the past or what will happen in the future; though our past may shape who we are in the present, we should not let it take over the present. everyday is a new day and we should treat it as such.
I also feel that to much emphasis is placed on things that happen in the past or future. I feel that people should be more concerned with things that are happining in their present. And things that have happened or will happen up greater powers.
Especially today for high-school students, with all the focus on college, on the future, it is often lost on many of us that the present is important. All people seem to discuss is the future, but with college admissions growing each year more and more selective focusing o the present becomes increasingly difficult unless its in relevance to the future.
I think what Thoreau is expressing in this entry is the necessity of meditation, or something close to it. At least, a quiet hour that does not involve productive activity so that we may understand why we partake in the specific activities during the day. I think this is an important and relevant lesson. To sit and wrap your mind around the underlying reasons of all your actions in very healthy; Thoreau knew that this makes wise decisions and wanted to share this knowledge gained from all the quiet hours spend at Walden.
This reminds me of the latin phrase carpe diem which means seize the day. Thoreau is talking about how we worry to much about things that have happened and things that will happen. We need to worry about things that are happening. Everything will fall into place when we take care of what is happening now.
I think he is implying a type of meditation, too. I know that sometimes I wish I could control time. I want to stop it when I'm busy, erase it when I have regrets, and fast forward it when I;m anxious. But if I could just have an hour every day where nothing mattered, life would be much easier.
Post a Comment