Quote by Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes, in a summer morning,having taken my accustomed bath, I sat in my sunny doorway from sunrisetill noon, rapt in a revery, amidst the pines and hickories and sumachs,in undisturbed solitude and stillness, while the birds sing around orflitted noiseless through the house, until by the sun falling in atmy west window, or the noise of some traveller's wagon on the distanthighway, I was reminded of the lapse of time. I grew in those seasonslike corn in the night, and they were far better than any work of thehands would have been. They were not time subtracted from my life, butso much over and above my usual allowance. I realized what the Orientalsmean by contemplation and the forsaking of works. For the most part, Iminded not how the hours went. The day advanced as if to light somework of mine; it was morning, and lo, now it is evening, and nothingmemorable is accomplished.

Summary

This quote describes the author's experience of finding contentment and fulfillment in simple moments of solitude and stillness in nature. Sitting in their doorway amidst the sights and sounds of the natural world, the author is so engrossed in their reverie that they lose track of time. These moments of contemplation and disconnection from the demands of daily life are compared to the work of the hands and are considered far more valuable. The author realizes that the true essence of life lies not in accomplishing tasks, but in appreciating and participating in the beauty and peacefulness of the world.