Quote by Henry David Thoreau, A Week on t
We bless and curse ourselves. Some dreams are divine, as well as some waking thoughts. Donne sings of one Who dreamt devoutlier than most use to pray. Dreams are the touchstones of our characters. We are scarcely less afflicted when we remember some unworthiness in our conduct in a dream, than if it had been actual, and the intensity of our grief, which is our atonement, measures inversely the degree by which this is separated from an actual unworthiness. For in dreams we but act a part which must have been learned and rehearsed in our waking hours, and no doubt could discover some waking consent thereto. If this meanness has not its foundation in us, why are we grieved at it? In dreams we see ourselves naked and acting out our real characters, even more clearly than we see others awake. But an unwavering and commanding virtue would compel even its most fantastic and faintest dreams to respect its ever wakeful authority; as we are accustomed to say carelessly, we should never have dreamed of such a thing. Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.http://national-library.elecbook.net/830.html
Summary
This quote suggests that our dreams, both good and bad, reflect the nature of our character. Dreams possess a divine quality and can provide insights into our true selves. The quote also highlights the importance of our emotional response to our behavior in dreams, as it signifies our conscious recognition of our actions. The intensity of our grief in response to unworthy behaviors in dreams mirrors our desire for atonement. Additionally, the quote suggests that our dreams act as a mirror, revealing our real character more clearly than our waking moments. However, possessing unwavering virtue would ensure that even our dreams respect our moral integrity. Ultimately, our truest life exists when we are fully awakened within our dreams.
Topics
Dreams
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