Nathaniel Hawthorne Quotes
"Nothing can be done, you know, until I get on the ground."
This quote is saying that the minister understands that life is a cycle. Everything that is born physically dies. This quote is showing his realization in that for the moment he is waiting for to come, the one he is living in presently must end. In this case the moment he is living in is a negative one but these moments can be positive as well. It is harder to accept this fact when the present moment is a positive one, because it seems to suck the experiencer in to dwell.
"What if a wretched old woman do choose to go to the devil when I thought she was going to heaven.; is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith and go after her?"
Goodman Brown is very confused about himself. Here he wonders of the relationship between himself and the devil, and between himself and his wife. He is wondering if there is a connection between the two or if one will affect the other. The woman that he passed is a symbol of his past in the form of his old teacher. Since something from his past has turned to the devil, Goodman Brown wonders whether that is in his nature or not.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
numbersix[6]
Henry David Thoreau Quotes
"Each stick I deal with has a history, and I read it as I am handling it, and, last of all, I remember my adventures in getting it, while it is burning in the winter evening."
This quote is fairly self explanatory. What it means is that everything you look at has some past and has come from somewhere. While you cannot be what you are seeing, you can learn a lot about it through observation. Looking at a stick, Thoreau sees where the stick came from and visualises what it might have been a part of. He becomes one with it and it makes him content that he has made a new friend. The main reason for this quote is that it serves as a bell of mindfulness to wake up and take a look around to see what is there because there is always something new.
"The mind that perceives clearly any natural beauty is in that instant withdrawn from human society."
This is another self explanatory quote. What it is saying is that there is something to be said for being mindful. As Thoreau has said before, being one with one's surroundings is an experience that cannot be described but only felt. When one experiences this, they aren't thinking but taking in what is around them. This leaves no room for thinking about what has happened in the past or what is to come in the future. At this point society does not exist. It is living in the present and being mindful.
"Each stick I deal with has a history, and I read it as I am handling it, and, last of all, I remember my adventures in getting it, while it is burning in the winter evening."
This quote is fairly self explanatory. What it means is that everything you look at has some past and has come from somewhere. While you cannot be what you are seeing, you can learn a lot about it through observation. Looking at a stick, Thoreau sees where the stick came from and visualises what it might have been a part of. He becomes one with it and it makes him content that he has made a new friend. The main reason for this quote is that it serves as a bell of mindfulness to wake up and take a look around to see what is there because there is always something new.
"The mind that perceives clearly any natural beauty is in that instant withdrawn from human society."
This is another self explanatory quote. What it is saying is that there is something to be said for being mindful. As Thoreau has said before, being one with one's surroundings is an experience that cannot be described but only felt. When one experiences this, they aren't thinking but taking in what is around them. This leaves no room for thinking about what has happened in the past or what is to come in the future. At this point society does not exist. It is living in the present and being mindful.
Friday, September 21, 2007
numberfive[5]
Henry David Thoreau Quotes
"'Here,' I exclaimed, 'stood Tahatawan; and there, is Tahatawan's arrowhead."
This quote is about what is possible with goals. Tahatawan crafted his arrowhead with his own hands. He put a lot of time and effort into making that single arrowhead his own. When one looks at Tahatawan's arrowhead, they see it is different from the rest. It is itself, but it is also Tahatawan. Further effort went to fasten the arrowhead to a shaft and even further to actually shoot the arrow. The arrowhead went from any flat rock to a human and then to beyond that. It reached a goal. As Tahatawan shot that particular arrow he envisioned where it was to go. Whether it reached its target or not it went somewhere and the effort was hardly wasted.
"The sail bends gently to the breeze, as swells some generous impulse of the heart..."
This also ties into the connection between man and what he can accomplish, although this quote is more so about what he cannot. The sail is a man-made object. The sail welcomes the breeze and they work together towards their chosen goal of pushing the boat onward. These two forces work together in transperant agreement and they have no difficulty between one another. The irony is that the one who created the sail is man. What man creates can produce more than man himself. While the sail works together with the wind, man ignores it, and cannot harvest the potential power as the sail can yet still wonders why. Looking into oneself is a great method of learning but looking around at everything around you can be extremely useful as well. The sail is awake, but the man sleeps on.
"'Here,' I exclaimed, 'stood Tahatawan; and there, is Tahatawan's arrowhead."
This quote is about what is possible with goals. Tahatawan crafted his arrowhead with his own hands. He put a lot of time and effort into making that single arrowhead his own. When one looks at Tahatawan's arrowhead, they see it is different from the rest. It is itself, but it is also Tahatawan. Further effort went to fasten the arrowhead to a shaft and even further to actually shoot the arrow. The arrowhead went from any flat rock to a human and then to beyond that. It reached a goal. As Tahatawan shot that particular arrow he envisioned where it was to go. Whether it reached its target or not it went somewhere and the effort was hardly wasted.
"The sail bends gently to the breeze, as swells some generous impulse of the heart..."
This also ties into the connection between man and what he can accomplish, although this quote is more so about what he cannot. The sail is a man-made object. The sail welcomes the breeze and they work together towards their chosen goal of pushing the boat onward. These two forces work together in transperant agreement and they have no difficulty between one another. The irony is that the one who created the sail is man. What man creates can produce more than man himself. While the sail works together with the wind, man ignores it, and cannot harvest the potential power as the sail can yet still wonders why. Looking into oneself is a great method of learning but looking around at everything around you can be extremely useful as well. The sail is awake, but the man sleeps on.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
numberthree[3]
Henry David Thoreau Quotes
"Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me."
This quote speaks about the optimism of a new day. Thoreau speaks a lot about being most awake in the morning in this selection. He feels most awake at this time because it is new and different. He has just woken from sleeping all night and the dawn is refreshing because he is able to conciously take in everything around him. It is also new in the sense that this day doesn't have to be anything like the preceeding day. This ties into the second part of the quote, "there is a dawn in me". This is the mystery of the future. Waking up, Thoreau has no clue what is to happen in the hours ahead but he has opened his mind to whatever it is in advance so not only will he be able to get through the day, but he will also learn from his experiences.
"...But it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look.."
Preceeding this quote, Thoreau talks about how creating is brilliant. The meaning of this quote is that even a step above creation is seeing what is already there and becoming one with what is seen. This way, nothing new is introduced but the same level of contentment is reached. Thoreau further backs this up with other quotes such as, "But if we stay at home and mind our business, who will want railroads?" Why is there always somewhere to be when somewhere is always where you are?
"Morning is when I am awake and there is a dawn in me."
This quote speaks about the optimism of a new day. Thoreau speaks a lot about being most awake in the morning in this selection. He feels most awake at this time because it is new and different. He has just woken from sleeping all night and the dawn is refreshing because he is able to conciously take in everything around him. It is also new in the sense that this day doesn't have to be anything like the preceeding day. This ties into the second part of the quote, "there is a dawn in me". This is the mystery of the future. Waking up, Thoreau has no clue what is to happen in the hours ahead but he has opened his mind to whatever it is in advance so not only will he be able to get through the day, but he will also learn from his experiences.
"...But it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look.."
Preceeding this quote, Thoreau talks about how creating is brilliant. The meaning of this quote is that even a step above creation is seeing what is already there and becoming one with what is seen. This way, nothing new is introduced but the same level of contentment is reached. Thoreau further backs this up with other quotes such as, "But if we stay at home and mind our business, who will want railroads?" Why is there always somewhere to be when somewhere is always where you are?
Monday, September 17, 2007
numbertwo[2]
Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotations
"These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter the world."
In this quote, Mr. Emerson is speaking of the voice of individuality that is inside of everybody. He also refers to this as "the likeness of god". He is saying that it is very much easier to be yourself when one is alone and the pressure is off of them, but if one possesses integrity, then they will be able to be themselves in any situation regardless of how much pressure is put on them. They can do simple and difficult tasks with the same calm and look for themselves inside rather than out.
"Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none."
The meaning of this quote is that if someone relies on only one characteristic to get by on, it will not have the same effect after it is used over and over. Unlike Ben Franklin saying, "The used key is always bright," this used key becomes dulled. If someone is always nice, it becomes a given. If someone acts naturally and uses all of their emotions, things stay balanced and words mean more than they would otherwise. Different emotions aren't bad, just different.
"...All natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence."
For the purpose of this quote, I believe that everything is natural, because it has progressed from nothing. Since we don't know what other humans have asides from on our earth, we do not know what is normal and what isn't. By nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson is referring to the environment, which includes things both good and bad. If one is optimistic, they can find enjoyment in anything. If one isn't optimistic, they will not see the same things. When the mind is opened, it takes in all aspects of what it sees. This means if you see a pile of trash you can find enjoyment in it with the different colors, textures or even lives of the objects in that trash. This leaves a feeling of contentment, which is the "kindred impression" Emerson speaks of.
"In good health, the air is cordial of incredible virtue."
What this quote is saying is that what you see is not always what you see. When one is healthy, the air seems very refreshing and crisp. In sickness, however it is the opposite and each breath causes suffering, however the air hasn't changed. What has changed is how the air is perceived.
"These are the voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter the world."
In this quote, Mr. Emerson is speaking of the voice of individuality that is inside of everybody. He also refers to this as "the likeness of god". He is saying that it is very much easier to be yourself when one is alone and the pressure is off of them, but if one possesses integrity, then they will be able to be themselves in any situation regardless of how much pressure is put on them. They can do simple and difficult tasks with the same calm and look for themselves inside rather than out.
"Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none."
The meaning of this quote is that if someone relies on only one characteristic to get by on, it will not have the same effect after it is used over and over. Unlike Ben Franklin saying, "The used key is always bright," this used key becomes dulled. If someone is always nice, it becomes a given. If someone acts naturally and uses all of their emotions, things stay balanced and words mean more than they would otherwise. Different emotions aren't bad, just different.
"...All natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence."
For the purpose of this quote, I believe that everything is natural, because it has progressed from nothing. Since we don't know what other humans have asides from on our earth, we do not know what is normal and what isn't. By nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson is referring to the environment, which includes things both good and bad. If one is optimistic, they can find enjoyment in anything. If one isn't optimistic, they will not see the same things. When the mind is opened, it takes in all aspects of what it sees. This means if you see a pile of trash you can find enjoyment in it with the different colors, textures or even lives of the objects in that trash. This leaves a feeling of contentment, which is the "kindred impression" Emerson speaks of.
"In good health, the air is cordial of incredible virtue."
What this quote is saying is that what you see is not always what you see. When one is healthy, the air seems very refreshing and crisp. In sickness, however it is the opposite and each breath causes suffering, however the air hasn't changed. What has changed is how the air is perceived.
Monday, September 10, 2007
numberone[1]
This year, the main thing that I would like to accomplish in American Literature is to become more proficient with my writing and comprehending skills. The last few years I haven't been the strongest writer since sometimes I have trouble organizing my thoughts onto paper. I would also like to try and get more enjoyment out of all of my classes. If I learn to enjoy them more, I will get more out of them and what I learn will stick with me better.
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