IwenttothewoodsbecauseIwishedtolivedeliberately，tofrontonlytheessentialfactsoflife，andseeifIcouldnotlearnwhatithadtoteach，andnot，whenIcametodie，discoverthatI
　　hadnotlived。Ididnotwishtolivewhatwasnotlife，livingissodear；nordidIwishtopractiseresignation，unlessitwasquitenecessary。Iwantedtolivedeepandsuckoutallthemarrowoflife，tolivesosturdilyandSpartan-likeastoputtoroutallthatwasnotlife，tocutabroadswathandshaveclose，todrivelifeintoacorner，andreduceittoitslowestterms，and，ifitprovedtobemean，whythentogetthewholeandgenuinemeannessofit，andpublishitsmeannesstotheworld；orifitweresublime，toknowitbyexperience，andbeabletogiveatrueaccountofitinmynextexcursion。Formostmen，itappearstome，areinastrangeuncertaintyaboutit，whetheritisofthedevilorofGod，andhavesomewhathastilyconcludedthatitisthechiefendofmanhereto“glorifyGodandenjoyhimforever。“
　　Stillwelivemeanly，likeants；thoughthefabletellsusthatwewerelongagochangedintomen；likepygmieswefightwithcranes；itiserroruponerror，andcloutuponclout，andourbestvirtuehasforitsoccasionasuperfluousandevitablewretchedness。
　　Ourlifeisfritteredawaybydetail。Anhonestmanhashardlyneedtocountmorethanhistenfingers，orinextremecaseshemayaddhistentoes，andlumptherest。Simplicity，simplicity，simplicity！Isay，letyouraffairsbeastwoorthree，andnotahundredorathousand；insteadofamillioncounthalfadozen，andkeepyouraccountsonyourthumb-nail。Inthemidstofthischoppingseaofcivilizedlife，sucharethecloudsandstormsandquicksandsandthousand-and-oneitemstobeallowedfor，thatamanhastolive，ifhewouldnotfounderandgotothebottomandnotmakehisportatall，bydeadreckoning，andhemustbeagreatcalculatorindeedwhosucceeds。Simplify，simplify。Insteadofthreemealsaday，ifitbenecessaryeatbutone；insteadofahundreddishes，five；andreduceotherthingsinproportion。OurlifeislikeaGermanConfederacy，madeupofpettystates，withitsboundaryforeverfluctuating，sothatevenaGermancannottellyouhowitisboundedatanymoment。Thenationitself，withallitsso-calledinternalimprovements，which，bythewayareallexternalandsuperficial，isjustsuchanunwieldyandovergrownestablishment，clutteredwithfurnitureandtrippedupbyitsowntraps，ruinedbyluxuryandheedlessexpense，bywantofcalculationandaworthyaim，asthemillionhouseholdsintheland；andtheonlycureforit，asforthem，isinarigideconomy，asternandmorethanSpartansimplicityoflifeandelevationofpurpose。Itlivestoofast。MenthinkthatitisessentialthattheNationhavecommerce，andexportice，andtalkthroughatelegraph，andridethirtymilesanhour，withoutadoubt，whethertheydoornot；butwhetherweshouldlivelikebaboonsorlikemen，isalittleuncertain。Ifwedonotgetoutsleepers，andforgerails，anddevotedaysandnightstothework，butgototinkeringuponourlivestoimprovethem，whowillbuildrailroads？Andifrailroadsarenotbuilt，howshallwegettoheaveninseason？Butifwestayathomeandmindourbusiness，whowillwantrailroads？Wedonotrideontherailroad；itridesuponus。Didyoueverthinkwhatthosesleepersarethatunderlietherailroad？Eachoneisaman，anIrishman，oraYankeeman。Therailsarelaidonthem，andtheyarecoveredwithsand，andthecarsrunsmoothlyoverthem。Theyaresoundsleepers，Iassureyou。Andeveryfewyearsanewlotislaiddownandrunover；sothat，ifsomehavethepleasureofridingonarail，othershavethemisfortunetoberiddenupon。Andwhentheyrunoveramanthatiswalkinginhissleep，asupernumerarysleeperinthewrongposition，andwakehimup，theysuddenlystopthecars，andmakeahueandcryaboutit，asifthiswereanexception。Iamgladtoknowthatittakesagangofmenforeveryfivemilestokeepthesleepersdownandlevelintheirbedsasitis，forthisisasignthattheymaysometimegetupagain。
　　Whyshouldwelivewithsuchhurryandwasteoflife？Wearedeterminedtobestarvedbeforewearehungry。Mensaythatastitchintimesavesnine，andsotheytakeathousandstitchestodaytosaveninetomorrow。Asforwork，wehaven’tanyofanyconsequence。WehavetheSaintVitus’dance，andcannotpossiblykeepourheadsstill。IfIshouldonlygiveafewpullsattheparishbell-rope，asforafire，thatis，withoutsettingthebell，thereishardlyamanonhisfarmintheoutskirtsofConcord，notwithstandingthatpressofengagementswhichwashisexcusesomanytimesthismorning，noraboy，norawoman，Imightalmostsay，butwouldforsakeallandfollowthatsound，notmainlytosavepropertyfromtheflames，but，ifwewillconfessthetruth，muchmoretoseeitburn，sinceburnitmust，andwe，beitknown，didnotsetitonfire——ortoseeitputout，andhaveahandinit，ifthatisdoneashandsomely；yes，evenifitweretheparishchurchitself。Hardlyamantakesahalf-hour’snapafterdinner，butwhenhewakesheholdsuphisheadandasks，“What’sthenews？“
　　asiftherestofmankindhadstoodhissentinels。Somegivedirectionstobewakedeveryhalf-hour，doubtlessfornootherpurpose；andthen，topayforit，theytellwhattheyhavedreamed。
　　Afteranight’ssleepthenewsisasindispensableasthebreakfast。
　　“Praytellmeanythingnewthathashappenedtoamananywhereonthisglobe“——andhereadsitoverhiscoffeeandrolls，thatamanhashadhiseyesgougedoutthismorningontheWachitoRiver；neverdreamingthewhilethathelivesinthedarkunfathomedmammothcaveofthisworld，andhasbuttherudimentofaneyehimself。
　　Formypart，Icouldeasilydowithoutthepost-office。Ithinkthatthereareveryfewimportantcommunicationsmadethroughit。
　　Tospeakcritically，Ineverreceivedmorethanoneortwolettersinmylife——Iwrotethissomeyearsago——thatwereworththepostage。Thepenny-postis，commonly，aninstitutionthroughwhichyouseriouslyofferamanthatpennyforhisthoughtswhichissooftensafelyofferedinjest。AndIamsurethatIneverreadanymemorablenewsinanewspaper。Ifwereadofonemanrobbed，ormurdered，orkilledbyaccident，oronehouseburned，oronevesselwrecked，oronesteamboatblownup，oronecowrunoverontheWesternRailroad，oronemaddogkilled，oronelotofgrasshoppersinthewinter——weneverneedreadofanother。Oneisenough。Ifyouareacquaintedwiththeprinciple，whatdoyoucareforamyriadinstancesandapplications？Toaphilosopherallnews，asitiscalled，isgossip，andtheywhoeditandreaditareoldwomenovertheirtea。Yetnotafewaregreedyafterthisgossip。Therewassucharush，asIhear，theotherdayatoneoftheofficestolearntheforeignnewsbythelastarrival，thatseverallargesquaresofplateglassbelongingtotheestablishmentwerebrokenbythepressure——newswhichIseriouslythinkareadywitmightwriteatwelve-month，ortwelveyears，beforehandwithsufficientaccuracy。
　　AsforSpain，forinstance，ifyouknowhowtothrowinDonCarlosandtheInfanta，andDonPedroandSevilleandGranada，fromtimetotimeintherightproportions——theymayhavechangedthenamesalittlesinceIsawthepapers——andserveupabull-fightwhenotherentertainmentsfail，itwillbetruetotheletter，andgiveusasgoodanideaoftheexactstateorruinofthingsinSpainasthemostsuccinctandlucidreportsunderthisheadinthenewspapers:andasforEngland，almostthelastsignificantscrapofnewsfromthatquarterwastherevolutionof1649；andifyouhavelearnedthehistoryofhercropsforanaverageyear，youneverneedattendtothatthingagain，unlessyourspeculationsareofamerelypecuniarycharacter。Ifonemayjudgewhorarelylooksintothenewspapers，nothingnewdoeseverhappeninforeignparts，aFrenchrevolutionnotexcepted。
　　Whatnews！howmuchmoreimportanttoknowwhatthatiswhichwasneverold！“Kieou-he-yugreatdignitaryofthestateofWei
　　sentamantoKhoung-tseutoknowhisnews。Khoung-tseucausedthemessengertobeseatednearhim，andquestionedhimintheseterms:
　　Whatisyourmasterdoing？Themessengeransweredwithrespect:Mymasterdesirestodiminishthenumberofhisfaults，buthecannotcometotheendofthem。Themessengerbeinggone，thephilosopherremarked:Whataworthymessenger！Whataworthymessenger！“Thepreacher，insteadofvexingtheearsofdrowsyfarmersontheirdayofrestattheendoftheweek——forSundayisthefitconclusionofanill-spentweek，andnotthefreshandbravebeginningofanewone——withthisoneotherdraggle-tailofasermon，shouldshoutwiththunderingvoice，“Pause！Avast！Whysoseemingfast，butdeadlyslow？“
　　Shamsanddelusionsareesteemedforsoundesttruths，whilerealityisfabulous。Ifmenwouldsteadilyobserverealitiesonly，andnotallowthemselvestobedeluded，life，tocompareitwithsuchthingsasweknow，wouldbelikeafairytaleandtheArabianNights’Entertainments。Ifwerespectedonlywhatisinevitableandhasarighttobe，musicandpoetrywouldresoundalongthestreets。
　　Whenweareunhurriedandwise，weperceivethatonlygreatandworthythingshaveanypermanentandabsoluteexistence，thatpettyfearsandpettypleasuresarebuttheshadowofthereality。Thisisalwaysexhilaratingandsublime。Byclosingtheeyesandslumbering，andconsentingtobedeceivedbyshows，menestablishandconfirmtheirdailylifeofroutineandhabiteverywhere，whichstillisbuiltonpurelyillusoryfoundations。Children，whoplaylife，discernitstruelawandrelationsmoreclearlythanmen，whofailtoliveitworthily，butwhothinkthattheyarewiserbyexperience，thatis，byfailure。IhavereadinaHindoobook，that“therewasaking’sson，who，beingexpelledininfancyfromhisnativecity，wasbroughtupbyaforester，and，growinguptomaturityinthatstate，imaginedhimselftobelongtothebarbarousracewithwhichhelived。Oneofhisfather’sministershavingdiscoveredhim，revealedtohimwhathewas，andthemisconceptionofhischaracterwasremoved，andheknewhimselftobeaprince。
　　Sosoul，“continuestheHindoophilosopher，“fromthecircumstancesinwhichitisplaced，mistakesitsowncharacter，untilthetruthisrevealedtoitbysomeholyteacher，andthenitknowsitselftobeBrahme。“IperceivethatweinhabitantsofNewEnglandlivethismeanlifethatwedobecauseourvisiondoesnotpenetratethesurfaceofthings。Wethinkthatthatiswhichappearstobe。Ifamanshouldwalkthroughthistownandseeonlythereality，where，thinkyou，wouldthe“Mill-dam“goto？Ifheshouldgiveusanaccountoftherealitieshebeheldthere，weshouldnotrecognizetheplaceinhisdescription。Lookatameeting-house，oracourt-house，orajail，orashop，oradwelling-house，andsaywhatthatthingreallyisbeforeatruegaze，andtheywouldallgotopiecesinyouraccountofthem。Menesteemtruthremote，intheoutskirtsofthesystem，behindthefartheststar，beforeAdamandafterthelastman。Ineternitythereisindeedsomethingtrueandsublime。Butallthesetimesandplacesandoccasionsarenowandhere。Godhimselfculminatesinthepresentmoment，andwillneverbemoredivineinthelapseofalltheages。Andweareenabledtoapprehendatallwhatissublimeandnobleonlybytheperpetualinstillinganddrenchingoftherealitythatsurroundsus。Theuniverseconstantlyandobedientlyanswerstoourconceptions；
　　whetherwetravelfastorslow，thetrackislaidforus。Letusspendourlivesinconceivingthen。Thepoetortheartistneveryethadsofairandnobleadesignbutsomeofhisposterityatleastcouldaccomplishit。
　　LetusspendonedayasdeliberatelyasNature，andnotbethrownoffthetrackbyeverynutshellandmosquito’swingthatfallsontherails。Letusriseearlyandfast，orbreakfast，gentlyandwithoutperturbation；letcompanycomeandletcompanygo，letthebellsringandthechildrencry——determinedtomakeadayofit。Whyshouldweknockunderandgowiththestream？Letusnotbeupsetandoverwhelmedinthatterriblerapidandwhirlpoolcalledadinner，situatedinthemeridianshallows。Weatherthisdangerandyouaresafe，fortherestofthewayisdownhill。Withunrelaxednerves，withmorningvigor，sailbyit，lookinganotherway，tiedtothemastlikeUlysses。Iftheenginewhistles，letitwhistletillitishoarseforitspains。Ifthebellrings，whyshouldwerun？Wewillconsiderwhatkindofmusictheyarelike。
　　Letussettleourselves，andworkandwedgeourfeetdownwardthroughthemudandslushofopinion，andprejudice，andtradition，anddelusion，andappearance，thatalluvionwhichcoverstheglobe，throughParisandLondon，throughNewYorkandBostonandConcord，throughChurchandState，throughpoetryandphilosophyandreligion，tillwecometoahardbottomandrocksinplace，whichwecancallreality，andsay，Thisis，andnomistake；andthenbegin，havingapointd’appui，belowfreshetandfrostandfire，aplacewhereyoumightfoundawallorastate，orsetalamp-postsafely，orperhapsagauge，notaNilometer，butaRealometer，thatfutureagesmightknowhowdeepafreshetofshamsandappearanceshadgatheredfromtimetotime。Ifyoustandrightfrontingandfacetofacetoafact，youwillseethesunglimmeronbothitssurfaces，asifitwereacimeter，andfeelitssweetedgedividingyouthroughtheheartandmarrow，andsoyouwillhappilyconcludeyourmortalcareer。Beitlifeordeath，wecraveonlyreality。Ifwearereallydying，letusheartherattleinourthroatsandfeelcoldintheextremities；ifwearealive，letusgoaboutourbusiness。