Quote by Henry David Thoreau

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life... I wanted to live so sturdily and so Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life... to drive life into a corner to know it by experience and be able to give an account of it in my next excursion.


I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, t

Summary

This quote, spoken by Henry David Thoreau, reflects his motivation for going to the woods. He seeks to live intentionally, focusing only on what is truly important in life. Thoreau wants to deeply understand and learn from life, ensuring that he does not reach the end of his days with regret for not truly living. He rejects an existence that is devoid of meaning and instead chooses to live in a simple, disciplined manner that prioritizes what truly matters. Thoreau's aim is to fully immerse himself in life, gaining firsthand experience and knowledge that he can share in future expeditions.

Topics

Life
By Henry David Thoreau
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