Quote Response 9/23

Henry David Thoreau: "The Heart of Thoreau's Journals" p. 32

1. "This shall be the test of innocence- if I can hear a taunt, and look out on this friendly moon, pacing the heavens in queen-like majesty, with the accustomed yearning."

Thoreau paints a picture in this journal entry. He is standing beneath the moon in a picturesque atmosphere in the winter months. He can see the moon "pacing" by the slight breeze pushing the illuminated clouds by it. By "taunt," I believe Thoreau means to hear an unwelcome sound that would ruin the atmosphere. By "innocence," I think that Thoreau means the true isolated and peacefulness of his location, secluded from society and the hustle-and-bustle of life. If his surroundings really are suitable for his experiment, right now, in this moment in time, nothing should disturb the serenity.

Henry David Thoreau: "The Heart of Thoreau's Journals" p. 36

2. "I will tell fortune that I play no game with her, and she may reach me in my Asia of indolence and serenity if she can."

By this, Thoreau means that one must not barter with fate and assume that one will get lucky once in a while. In Thoreau's eyes, hard work is key. Once you do not show interest in trying fortune, laziness will not bring you down. He continues to say, "For an impenetrable shield, stand inside yourself." This quote of Thoreau's only heightens your assumption that he feels that hard work is key. Thoreau said this on June 27th, during the summer months. It could be predicted that he was growing and maintaining his own crops by then. I worked on a farm for a summer. If anything, it requires constant hard work.