Quote by Henry David Thoreau
In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference. We commonly do not remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking. I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience. Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men's lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me. Perhaps these pages are more particularly addressed to poor students. As for the rest of my readers, they will accept such portions as apply to them. I trust that none will stretch the seams in putting on the coat, for it may do good service to him whom it fits.
Summary
This quote by Henry David Thoreau highlights the importance of retaining the first-person perspective in literature. Thoreau believes that often, the I or the self is neglected in books, ignoring the fact that it is always the first person speaking. He acknowledges that he talks about himself extensively because he is limited by his own experiences. Thoreau, who values authenticity, expects writers to provide a sincere account of their own lives rather than relying on hearsay. He writes with the intention of reaching out to poor students, but expects his words to be relevant to all readers, urging them to accept and apply whatever resonates with their own lives.
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