‘I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.’
American writer, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, and historian, Henry David Thoreau explained this in his 1854 book Walden, named after the Walden Woods in which he had built his home nine years previously. The book was a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings where he declared his love of nature, simplicity, and independence. His minimalist lifestyle, he wrote, calmed the mind and provided time for thinking. And he certainly did a lot of thinking: Thoreau showed a great deal of consideration for the world around him, writing about plant specimens, animal behaviour, political philosophy, history, and for abolition. Much of his natural collection and writing was donated to the Boston Society of Natural History upon his death.
So, if you’re interested in philosophy, politics, history, or the natural world, we Thoreau-ly recommend this radical tea towel.
