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to such villagers as loved to be reminded of the woods； even to the
city； by hay…cart loads。 But I have since learned that trade curses
everything it handles； and though you trade in messages from heaven；
the whole curse of trade attaches to the business。
As I preferred some things to others； and especially valued my
freedom； as I could fare hard and yet succeed well； I did not wish
to spend my time in earning rich carpets or other fine furniture； or
delicate cookery； or a house in the Grecian or the Gothic style just
yet。 If there are any to whom it is no interruption to acquire
these things； and who know how to use them when acquired； I
relinquish to them the pursuit。 Some are 〃industrious；〃 and appear
to love labor for its own sake； or perhaps because it keeps them out
of worse mischief； to such I have at present nothing to say。 Those
who would not know what to do with more leisure than they now enjoy；
I might advise to work twice as hard as they do work till they
pay for themselves； and get their free papers。 For myself I found
that the occupation of a day…laborer was the most independent of
any； especially as it required only thirty or forty days in a year
to support one。 The laborer's day ends with the going down of the
sun； and he is then free to devote himself to his chosen pursuit；
independent of his labor； but his employer； who speculates from
month to month； has no respite from one end of the year to the
other。
In short； I am convinced； both by faith and experience； that to
maintain one's self on this earth is not a hardship but a pastime；
if we will live simply and wisely； as the pursuits of the simpler
nations are still the sports of the more artificial。 It is not
necessary that a man should earn his living by the sweat of his
brow； unless he sweats easier than I do。
One young man of my acquaintance； who has inherited some acres；
told me that he thought he should live as I did； if he had the
means。 I would not have any one adopt my mode of living on any
account； for； beside that before he has fairly learned it I may have
found out another for myself； I desire that there may be as many
different persons in the world as possible； but I would have each
one be very careful to find out and pursue his own way； and not his
father's or his mother's or his neighbor's instead。 The youth may
build or plant or sail； only let him not be hindered from doing that
which he tells me he would like to do。 It is by a mathematical
point only that we are wise； as the sailor or the fugitive slave
keeps the polestar in his eye； but that is sufficient guidance for
all our life。 We may not arrive at our port within a calculable
period； but we would preserve the true course。
Undoubtedly； in this case； what is true for one is truer still
for a thousand； as a large house is not proportionally more
expensive than a small one； since one roof may cover； one cellar
underlie； and one wall separate several apartments。 But for my
part； I preferred the solitary dwelling。 Moreover； it will commonly
be cheaper to build the whole yourself than to convince another of
the advantage of the common wall； and when you have done this； the
common partition； to be much cheaper； must be a thin one； and that
other may prove a bad neighbor； and also not keep his side in
repair。 The only co…operation which is commonly possible is
exceedingly partial and superficial； and what little true
co…operation there is； is as if it were not； being a harmony
inaudible to men。 If a man has faith； he will co…operate with equal
faith everywhere； if he has not faith； he will continue to live like
the rest of the world； whatever company he is joined to。 To
co…operate in the highest as well as the lowest sense； means to get
our living together。 I heard it proposed lately that two young men
should travel together over the world； the one without money；
earning his means as he went； before the mast and behind the plow；
the other carrying a bill of exchange in his pocket。 It was easy to
see that they could not long be companions or co…operate； since one
would not operate at all。 They would part at the first interesting
crisis in their adventures。 Above all； as I have implied； the man
who goes alone can start today； but he who travels with another must
wait till that other is ready； and it may be a long time before they
get off。
But all this is very selfish； I have heard some of my townsmen
say。 I confess that I have hitherto indulged very little in
philanthropic enterprises。 I have made some sacrifices to a sense
of duty； and among others have sacrificed this pleasure also。 There
are those who have used all their arts to persuade me to undertake
the support of some poor family in the town； and if I had nothing to
do for the devil finds employment for the idle I might try my
hand at some such pastime as that。 However； when I have thought to
indulge myself in this respect； and lay their Heaven under an
obligation by maintaining certain poor persons in all respects as
comfortably as I maintain myself； and have even ventured so far as
to make them the offer； they have one and all unhesitatingly
preferred to remain poor。 While my townsmen and women are devoted
in so many ways to the good of their fellows； I trust that one at
least may be spared to other and less humane pursuits。 You must
have a genius for charity as well as for anything else。 As for
Doing…good； that is one of the professions which are full。
Moreover； I have tried it fairly； and； strange as it may seem； am
satisfied that it does not agree with my constitution。 Probably I
should not consciously and deliberately forsake my particular
calling to do the good which society demands of me； to save the
universe from annihilation； and I believe that a like but infinitely
greater steadfastness elsewhere is all that now preserves it。 But I
would not stand between any man and his genius； and to him who does
this work； which I decline； with his whole heart and soul and life；
I would say； Persevere； even if the world call it doing evil； as it
is most likely they will。
I am far from supposing that my case is a peculiar one； no doubt
many of my readers would make a similar defence。 At doing something
I will not engage that my neighbors shall pronounce it good I
do not hesitate to say that I should be a capital fellow to hire；
but what that is； it is for my employer to find out。 What good I
do； in the common sense of that word； must be aside from my main
path； and for the most part wholly unintended。 Men say；
practically； Begin where you are and such as you are； without aiming
mainly to become of more worth； and with kindness aforethought go
about doing good。 If I were to preach at all in this strain； I
should say rather； Set about being good。 As if the sun should stop
when he had kindled his fires up to the splendor of a moon or a star
of the sixth magnitude； and g