9.01.2014
the rule of existence
...Thoreau's Journal: 01-Sep-1851
Is not disease the rule of existence? There is not a lily pad floating on the river but has been riddled by insects. Almost every shrub and tree has its gall, oftentimes esteemed its chief ornament and hardly to be distinguished from the fruit. If misery loves company, misery has company enough. Now, at midsummer, find me a perfect leaf or fruit.
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3 comments:
we try to promote the best of our species as does every living organism, even the ones that take care of the dieing to enrich the soil , it keeps things in check and balance!,,and as we grow smarter and stronger so do the viruses and bacteria,,and i believe its in order to keep us from overpopulating an overpopulated world!. michael jameson oldantiqueguy@hotmail.com
I love Henry David Thoreau. He's my master.
But is it disease? 'Riddled' and 'misery' are a sad way of looking at the existence of insects whose presence is as valid as the leaf or fruit or of man. I understand the analogy being made, of good and evil co-existing in humans but when you stop seeing the natural world (which we are a part of) in terms of good and bad insects/plants etc, you see human nature in a less polarised way too. I would love to have had this conversation with Thoreau.
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