Selections from WALDEN - Henry D. Thoreau

          The general argument/point made by Henry D. Thoreau in his work Selections from WALDEN is that us as people are so busy and ignorant to what’s really important in life and so routine that we never stop to smell the roses or see/care about the fruits of our labors. More specifically, Thoreau argues/suggests that we as humans, work so hard at the wrong things and care about the wrong things; we have and work for so much stuff that is not needed. He writes, “Most men, even in this comparatively free country through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them.” (pg. 350) In this passage, Thoreau is suggesting that we as humans are so busy all the time with the wrong things; we work our lives away just because our ancestors did and because it’s what we think we are supposed to do to obtain material objects that are not needed. In conclusion, it is Thoreau’s belief that humans need to refocus themselves on the important things in life so that we can fully receive the fruits of life.

             In my view, Thoreau is right because the happiest people I know are the ones that slow down their lives, don’t work all the time, and spend time with the people they love and on the things they care about the most; they truly enjoy the fruits of their lives. Another example of this, one from Thoreau’s selection, takes us clear back to the times of the savages. They lived comfortably warm, in the middle of winter, completely unclothed while English men very well clothed sat next to a fire and were far from too warm. That statement struck me hard, because it goes back to what we need versus what we want. As long as the savages ate the right amount of food for energy and had some sort of shelter, they were comfortably warm and fine. It made me truly realize that we busy ourselves in the world we live in today with stuff that does not matter; we fill all of our wants and not our needs. We could be so much happier, slowing down and treating ourselves right not caring about all the material stuff in our world today. Although Thoreau might object me saying that I don’t believe completely cutting yourself off from the world like he did is the best thing to do, I maintain my agreement with him that a simplification of life, would do wonders. Therefore, I conclude that I agree with Thoreau; men (society) needs to slow down, simplify everything they have their hands in, and truly receive the fruits of their labors, not just keep laboring.