第17章

Thereiscommonlysufficientspaceaboutus。Ourhorizonisneverquiteatourelbows。Thethickwoodisnotjustatourdoor，northepond，butsomewhatisalwaysclearing，familiarandwornbyus，appropriatedandfencedinsomeway，andreclaimedfromNature。

ForwhatreasonhaveIthisvastrangeandcircuit，somesquaremilesofunfrequentedforest，formyprivacy，abandonedtomebymen？Mynearestneighborisamiledistant，andnohouseisvisiblefromanyplacebutthehill-topswithinhalfamileofmyown。I

havemyhorizonboundedbywoodsalltomyself；adistantviewoftherailroadwhereittouchesthepondontheonehand，andofthefencewhichskirtsthewoodlandroadontheother。ButforthemostpartitisassolitarywhereIliveasontheprairies。ItisasmuchAsiaorAfricaasNewEngland。Ihave，asitwere，myownsunandmoonandstars，andalittleworldalltomyself。Atnighttherewasneveratravellerpassedmyhouse，orknockedatmydoor，morethanifIwerethefirstorlastman；unlessitwereinthespring，whenatlongintervalssomecamefromthevillagetofishforpouts——theyplainlyfishedmuchmoreintheWaldenPondoftheirownnatures，andbaitedtheirhookswithdarkness——buttheysoonretreated，usuallywithlightbaskets，andleft“theworldtodarknessandtome，“andtheblackkernelofthenightwasneverprofanedbyanyhumanneighborhood。Ibelievethatmenaregenerallystillalittleafraidofthedark，thoughthewitchesareallhung，andChristianityandcandleshavebeenintroduced。

YetIexperiencedsometimesthatthemostsweetandtender，themostinnocentandencouragingsocietymaybefoundinanynaturalobject，evenforthepoormisanthropeandmostmelancholyman。

TherecanbenoveryblackmelancholytohimwholivesinthemidstofNatureandhashissensesstill。TherewasneveryetsuchastormbutitwasAEolianmusictoahealthyandinnocentear。

Nothingcanrightlycompelasimpleandbravemantoavulgarsadness。WhileIenjoythefriendshipoftheseasonsItrustthatnothingcanmakelifeaburdentome。Thegentlerainwhichwatersmybeansandkeepsmeinthehousetodayisnotdrearandmelancholy，butgoodformetoo。Thoughitpreventsmyhoeingthem，itisoffarmoreworththanmyhoeing。Ifitshouldcontinuesolongastocausetheseedstorotinthegroundanddestroythepotatoesinthelowlands，itwouldstillbegoodforthegrassontheuplands，and，beinggoodforthegrass，itwouldbegoodforme。

Sometimes，whenIcomparemyselfwithothermen，itseemsasifI

weremorefavoredbythegodsthanthey，beyondanydesertsthatI

amconsciousof；asifIhadawarrantandsuretyattheirhandswhichmyfellowshavenot，andwereespeciallyguidedandguarded。

Idonotflattermyself，butifitbepossibletheyflatterme。I

haveneverfeltlonesome，orintheleastoppressedbyasenseofsolitude，butonce，andthatwasafewweeksafterIcametothewoods，when，foranhour，Idoubtedifthenearneighborhoodofmanwasnotessentialtoasereneandhealthylife。Tobealonewassomethingunpleasant。ButIwasatthesametimeconsciousofaslightinsanityinmymood，andseemedtoforeseemyrecovery。Inthemidstofagentlerainwhilethesethoughtsprevailed，IwassuddenlysensibleofsuchsweetandbeneficentsocietyinNature，intheverypatteringofthedrops，andineverysoundandsightaroundmyhouse，aninfiniteandunaccountablefriendlinessallatoncelikeanatmospheresustainingme，asmadethefanciedadvantagesofhumanneighborhoodinsignificant，andIhaveneverthoughtofthemsince。Everylittlepineneedleexpandedandswelledwithsympathyandbefriendedme。Iwassodistinctlymadeawareofthepresenceofsomethingkindredtome，eveninsceneswhichweareaccustomedtocallwildanddreary，andalsothatthenearestofbloodtomeandhumanestwasnotapersonnoravillager，thatIthoughtnoplacecouldeverbestrangetomeagain。

“Mourninguntimelyconsumesthesad；

Fewaretheirdaysinthelandoftheliving，BeautifuldaughterofToscar。“

Someofmypleasantesthourswereduringthelongrain-stormsinthespringorfall，whichconfinedmetothehousefortheafternoonaswellastheforenoon，soothedbytheirceaselessroarandpelting；whenanearlytwilightusheredinalongeveninginwhichmanythoughtshadtimetotakerootandunfoldthemselves。Inthosedrivingnortheastrainswhichtriedthevillagehousesso，whenthemaidsstoodreadywithmopandpailinfrontentriestokeepthedelugeout，Isatbehindmydoorinmylittlehouse，whichwasallentry，andthoroughlyenjoyeditsprotection。Inoneheavythunder-showerthelightningstruckalargepitchpineacrossthepond，makingaveryconspicuousandperfectlyregularspiralgroovefromtoptobottom，aninchormoredeep，andfourorfiveincheswide，asyouwouldgrooveawalking-stick。Ipasseditagaintheotherday，andwasstruckwithaweonlookingupandbeholdingthatmark，nowmoredistinctthanever，whereaterrificandresistlessboltcamedownoutoftheharmlessskyeightyearsago。Menfrequentlysaytome，“Ishouldthinkyouwouldfeellonesomedownthere，andwanttobenearertofolks，rainyandsnowydaysandnightsespecially。“Iamtemptedtoreplytosuch——Thiswholeearthwhichweinhabitisbutapointinspace。Howfarapart，thinkyou，dwellthetwomostdistantinhabitantsofyonderstar，thebreadthofwhosediskcannotbeappreciatedbyourinstruments？

WhyshouldIfeellonely？isnotourplanetintheMilkyWay？Thiswhichyouputseemstomenottobethemostimportantquestion。

Whatsortofspaceisthatwhichseparatesamanfromhisfellowsandmakeshimsolitary？Ihavefoundthatnoexertionofthelegscanbringtwomindsmuchnearertooneanother。Whatdowewantmosttodwellnearto？Nottomanymensurely，thedepot，thepost-office，thebar-room，themeeting-house，theschool-house，thegrocery，BeaconHill，ortheFivePoints，wheremenmostcongregate，buttotheperennialsourceofourlife，whenceinallourexperiencewehavefoundthattoissue，asthewillowstandsnearthewaterandsendsoutitsrootsinthatdirection。Thiswillvarywithdifferentnatures，butthisistheplacewhereawisemanwilldighiscellar……Ioneeveningovertookoneofmytownsmen，whohasaccumulatedwhatiscalled“ahandsomeproperty“——thoughI

nevergotafairviewofit——ontheWaldenroad，drivingapairofcattletomarket，whoinquiredofmehowIcouldbringmymindtogiveupsomanyofthecomfortsoflife。IansweredthatIwasverysureIlikeditpassablywell；Iwasnotjoking。AndsoIwenthometomybed，andlefthimtopickhiswaythroughthedarknessandthemudtoBrighton——orBright-town——whichplacehewouldreachsometimeinthemorning。

Anyprospectofawakeningorcomingtolifetoadeadmanmakesindifferentalltimesandplaces。Theplacewherethatmayoccurisalwaysthesame，andindescribablypleasanttoalloursenses。Forthemostpartweallowonlyoutlyingandtransientcircumstancestomakeouroccasions。Theyare，infact，thecauseofourdistraction。Nearesttoallthingsisthatpowerwhichfashionstheirbeing。Nexttousthegrandestlawsarecontinuallybeingexecuted。Nexttousisnottheworkmanwhomwehavehired，withwhomwelovesowelltotalk，buttheworkmanwhoseworkweare。

“HowvastandprofoundistheinfluenceofthesubtilepowersofHeavenandofEarth！“

“Weseektoperceivethem，andwedonotseethem；weseektohearthem，andwedonothearthem；identifiedwiththesubstanceofthings，theycannotbeseparatedfromthem。“

“Theycausethatinalltheuniversemenpurifyandsanctifytheirhearts，andclothethemselvesintheirholidaygarmentstooffersacrificesandoblationstotheirancestors。Itisanoceanofsubtileintelligences。Theyareeverywhere，aboveus，onourleft，onourright；theyenvironusonallsides。“

Wearethesubjectsofanexperimentwhichisnotalittleinterestingtome。Canwenotdowithoutthesocietyofourgossipsalittlewhileunderthesecircumstances——haveourownthoughtstocheerus？Confuciussaystruly，“Virtuedoesnotremainasanabandonedorphan；itmustofnecessityhaveneighbors。“

Withthinkingwemaybebesideourselvesinasanesense。Byaconsciouseffortofthemindwecanstandalooffromactionsandtheirconsequences；andallthings，goodandbad，gobyuslikeatorrent。WearenotwhollyinvolvedinNature。Imaybeeitherthedriftwoodinthestream，orIndraintheskylookingdownonit。I

maybeaffectedbyatheatricalexhibition；ontheotherhand，Imaynotbeaffectedbyanactualeventwhichappearstoconcernmemuchmore。Ionlyknowmyselfasahumanentity；thescene，sotospeak，ofthoughtsandaffections；andamsensibleofacertaindoublenessbywhichIcanstandasremotefrommyselfasfromanother。Howeverintensemyexperience，Iamconsciousofthepresenceandcriticismofapartofme，which，asitwere，isnotapartofme，butspectator，sharingnoexperience，buttakingnoteofit，andthatisnomoreIthanitisyou。Whentheplay，itmaybethetragedy，oflifeisover，thespectatorgoeshisway。Itwasakindoffiction，aworkoftheimaginationonly，sofarashewasconcerned。Thisdoublenessmayeasilymakeuspoorneighborsandfriendssometimes。

Ifinditwholesometobealonethegreaterpartofthetime。

Tobeincompany，evenwiththebest，issoonwearisomeanddissipating。Ilovetobealone。Ineverfoundthecompanionthatwassocompanionableassolitude。Weareforthemostpartmorelonelywhenwegoabroadamongmenthanwhenwestayinourchambers。Amanthinkingorworkingisalwaysalone，lethimbewherehewill。Solitudeisnotmeasuredbythemilesofspacethatintervenebetweenamanandhisfellows。ThereallydiligentstudentinoneofthecrowdedhivesofCambridgeCollegeisassolitaryasadervishinthedesert。Thefarmercanworkaloneinthefieldorthewoodsallday，hoeingorchopping，andnotfeellonesome，becauseheisemployed；butwhenhecomeshomeatnighthecannotsitdowninaroomalone，atthemercyofhisthoughts，butmustbewherehecan“seethefolks，“andrecreate，and，ashethinks，remuneratehimselfforhisday’ssolitude；andhencehewondershowthestudentcansitaloneinthehouseallnightandmostofthedaywithoutennuiand“theblues“；buthedoesnotrealizethatthestudent，thoughinthehouse，isstillatworkinhisfield，andchoppinginhiswoods，asthefarmerinhis，andinturnseeksthesamerecreationandsocietythatthelatterdoes，thoughitmaybeamorecondensedformofit。

Societyiscommonlytoocheap。Wemeetatveryshortintervals，nothavinghadtimetoacquireanynewvalueforeachother。Wemeetatmealsthreetimesaday，andgiveeachotheranewtasteofthatoldmustycheesethatweare。Wehavehadtoagreeonacertainsetofrules，calledetiquetteandpoliteness，tomakethisfrequentmeetingtolerableandthatweneednotcometoopenwar。

Wemeetatthepost-office，andatthesociable，andaboutthefiresideeverynight；welivethickandareineachother’sway，andstumbleoveroneanother，andIthinkthatwethuslosesomerespectforoneanother。Certainlylessfrequencywouldsufficeforallimportantandheartycommunications。Considerthegirlsinafactory——neveralone，hardlyintheirdreams。Itwouldbebetteriftherewerebutoneinhabitanttoasquaremile，aswhereIlive。

Thevalueofamanisnotinhisskin，thatweshouldtouchhim。

Ihaveheardofamanlostinthewoodsanddyingoffamineandexhaustionatthefootofatree，whoselonelinesswasrelievedbythegrotesquevisionswithwhich，owingtobodilyweakness，hisdiseasedimaginationsurroundedhim，andwhichhebelievedtobereal。Soalso，owingtobodilyandmentalhealthandstrength，wemaybecontinuallycheeredbyalikebutmorenormalandnaturalsociety，andcometoknowthatweareneveralone。

Ihaveagreatdealofcompanyinmyhouse；especiallyinthemorning，whennobodycalls。Letmesuggestafewcomparisons，thatsomeonemayconveyanideaofmysituation。Iamnomorelonelythanthelooninthepondthatlaughssoloud，orthanWaldenPonditself。Whatcompanyhasthatlonelylake，Ipray？Andyetithasnotthebluedevils，buttheblueangelsinit，intheazuretintofitswaters。Thesunisalone，exceptinthickweather，whentheresometimesappeartobetwo，butoneisamocksun。Godisalone——

butthedevil，heisfarfrombeingalone；heseesagreatdealofcompany；heislegion。Iamnomorelonelythanasinglemulleinordandelioninapasture，orabeanleaf，orsorrel，orahorse-fly，orabumblebee。IamnomorelonelythantheMillBrook，oraweathercock，orthenorthstar，orthesouthwind，oranAprilshower，oraJanuarythaw，orthefirstspiderinanewhouse。

Ihaveoccasionalvisitsinthelongwinterevenings，whenthesnowfallsfastandthewindhowlsinthewood，fromanoldsettlerandoriginalproprietor，whoisreportedtohavedugWaldenPond，andstonedit，andfringeditwithpinewoods；whotellsmestoriesofoldtimeandofneweternity；andbetweenuswemanagetopassacheerfuleveningwithsocialmirthandpleasantviewsofthings，evenwithoutapplesorcider——amostwiseandhumorousfriend，whomIlovemuch，whokeepshimselfmoresecretthaneverdidGoffeorWhalley；andthoughheisthoughttobedead，nonecanshowwhereheisburied。Anelderlydame，too，dwellsinmyneighborhood，invisibletomostpersons，inwhoseodorousherbgardenIlovetostrollsometimes，gatheringsimplesandlisteningtoherfables；forshehasageniusofunequalledfertility，andhermemoryrunsbackfartherthanmythology，andshecantellmetheoriginalofeveryfable，andonwhatfacteveryoneisfounded，fortheincidentsoccurredwhenshewasyoung。Aruddyandlustyolddame，whodelightsinallweathersandseasons，andislikelytooutliveallherchildrenyet。