An Observation by Thoreau on 28 November 1859

On this day in 1859, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

There is scarcely a wood of sufficient size and density left now for an owl to haunt in, and if I hear one hoot I may be sure where he is.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

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An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 4 May 1857

On this day in 1857, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

Perhaps the most generally interesting event at present is a perfectly warm and pleasant day. It affects the greatest number, the well out of doors and the sick in chambers. No wonder the weather is the universal theme of conversation.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 2 February 1854

On this day (Groundhog Day) in 1854, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

Already we begin to anticipate spring, and this is an important difference between this time and a month ago. We begin to say that the day is springlike.
     Is not January the hardest month to get through? When you have weathered that, you get into the gulf stream of winter, nearer the shores of spring.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 28 October 1853

On this day in 1853, Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) wrote the following observation in his journal:

For a year or two past, my publisher, falsely so called, has been writing from time to time to ask what disposition should be made of the copies of "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers" still on hand, and at last suggesting that he had use for the room they occupied in his cellar. So I had them all sent to me here, and they have arrived to-day by express, filling the man's wagon, -- 706 copies out of an edition of 1000. . . . I have now a library of nearly nine hundred volumes, over seven hundred of which I wrote myself. Is it not well that the author should behold the fruits of his labor?

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 2 August 1854

On this day in 1854, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

I must cultivate privacy. It is very dissipating to be with people too much. As C. says, it takes the edge off a man's thoughts to have been much in society -- I can not spare my moonlight & my mts for the best of man I am likely to get in exchange --
     I am inclined now for a pensive evening walk.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 4 July 1858

On this day, Independence Day, in 1858, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

It is far more independent to travel on foot.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 28 May 1854

On this day in 1854, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

It would be worth the while to ask ourselves weekly -- Is our life innocent enough? Do we live inhumanely -- toward man or beast -- in thought or act? To be serene & successful we must be at one with the universe. The least conscious & needless injury inflicted on any creature -- is to its extent a suicide. What peace -- or life -- can a murderer have?

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

A Pair of Observations by Henry David Thoreau on 27 and 28 March 1853

On 27 March 1853, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

Tried to see the faint-croaking frogs at J. P. Browns pond in the woods --  They are remarkably timid & shy -- had their noses & eyes out -- croaking -- but all ceased dove & concealed themselves before I got within a rod of the shore. Stood perfectly still amid the bushes on the shore -- before one showed himself -- finally 5 or 6 & all eyed me -- gradually approached me within 3 feet to reconnoitre and though I waited about 1/2 hour would not utter a sound nor take their eyes off me --  Were plainly affected by curiosity.


On this day in 1853, Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

My Aunt Maria asked me to read the life of Dr. Chalmers -- which however I did not promise to do. Yesterday, Sunday, she was heard through the partition shouting to my Aunt Jane who is deaf --  "Think of it, he stood haf an hour today to hear the frogs croak, and he would'nt read the life of Chalmers -- "


Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) 

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 22 March 1861

On this day in 1861, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

A seed, which is a plant or tree in embryo, which has the principle of growth, of life, in it, is more important in my eyes, and in the economy of Nature, than the diamond of Kohinoor.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 20 March 1855

On this day in 1855, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

Trying the other day to imitate the honking of geese, I found myself flapping my sides with my elbows, as with wings, and uttering something like the syllables mow-ack with a nasal twang and twist in my head; and I produced their note so perfectly in the opinion of the hearers that I thought I might possibly draw a flock down.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau on 8 March 1859

Here where I live in Virginia it has been snowing off and on all day. On this day in 1859 Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

To us snow and cold seem a mere delaying of the spring. How far we are from understanding the value of these things in the economy of Nature!

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation by Henry David Thoreau: "We too have our thaws. . . . "

On this day in 1854, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

We too have our thaws. They come to our January moods, when our ice cracks, and our sluices break loose. Thought that was frozen up under stern experience gushes forth in feeling and expression.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An observation by Henry David Thoreau on "an evidence of perfect health"

On this day in 1857, Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

I had yesterday a kink in my back and a general cold, and as usual it amounted to a cessation of life. I lost for the time my rapport or relation to nature. Sympathy with nature is an evidence of perfect health. You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau

"In rough October / Earth must disrobe her," wrote Christina Rossetti in her poem "The Months." On this day in 1858 Henry David Thoreau wrote in his journal the following observation about Nature:

Nature now, like an athlete, begins to strip herself in earnest for her contest with her great antagonist Winter. In the bare trees and twigs what a display of muscle!

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

An Observation from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau

On this day in 1857 Henry David Thoreau wrote the following observation in his journal:

Is not the poet bound to write his own biography? Is there any other work for him but a good journal? We do not wish to know how his imaginary hero, but how he, the actual hero, lived from day to day.

Source: Daily Observations: Thoreau on the Days of the Year (2005), edited by Steve Grant

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)