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illusion； and that no more time had elapsed than is required for a
single scintillation from the brain of Brahma to fall on and inflame
the tinder of a mortal brain。 The material was pure； and his art
was pure； how could the result be other than wonderful？
No face which we can give to a matter will stead us so well at
last as the truth。 This alone wears well。 For the most part； we
are not where we are； but in a false position。 Through an infinity
of our natures； we suppose a case； and put ourselves into it； and
hence are in two cases at the same time； and it is doubly difficult
to get out。 In sane moments we regard only the facts； the case that
is。 Say what you have to say； not what you ought。 Any truth is
better than make…believe。 Tom Hyde； the tinker； standing on the
gallows； was asked if he had anything to say。 〃Tell the tailors；〃
said he； 〃to remember to make a knot in their thread before they
take the first stitch。〃 His companion's prayer is forgotten。
However mean your life is； meet it and live it； do not shun it
and call it hard names。 It is not so bad as you are。 It looks
poorest when you are richest。 The fault…finder will find faults
even in paradise。 Love your life； poor as it is。 You may perhaps
have some pleasant； thrilling； glorious hours； even in a poorhouse。
The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as
brightly as from the rich man's abode； the snow melts before its
door as early in the spring。 I do not see but a quiet mind may live
as contentedly there； and have as cheering thoughts； as in a palace。
The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives
of any。 Maybe they are simply great enough to receive without
misgiving。 Most think that they are above being supported by the
town； but it oftener happens that they are not above supporting
themselves by dishonest means； which should be more disreputable。
Cultivate poverty like a garden herb； like sage。 Do not trouble
yourself much to get new things； whether clothes or friends。 Turn
the old； return to them。 Things do not change； we change。 Sell
your clothes and keep your thoughts。 God will see that you do not
want society。 If I were confined to a corner of a garret all my
days； like a spider； the world would be just as large to me while I
had my thoughts about me。 The philosopher said： 〃From an army of
three divisions one can take away its general； and put it in
disorder； from the man the most abject and vulgar one cannot take
away his thought。〃 Do not seek so anxiously to be developed； to
subject yourself to many influences to be played on； it is all
dissipation。 Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly lights。
The shadows of poverty and meanness gather around us； 〃and lo！
creation widens to our view。〃 We are often reminded that if there
were bestowed on us the wealth of Croesus； our aims must still be
the same； and our means essentially the same。 Moreover； if you are
restricted in your range by poverty； if you cannot buy books and
newspapers； for instance； you are but confined to the most
significant and vital experiences； you are compelled to deal with
the material which yields the most sugar and the most starch。 It is
life near the bone where it is sweetest。 You are defended from
being a trifler。 No man loses ever on a lower level by magnanimity
on a higher。 Superfluous wealth can buy superfluities only。 Money
is not required to buy one necessary of the soul。
I live in the angle of a leaden wall； into whose composition was
poured a little alloy of bell…metal。 Often； in the repose of my
mid…day； there reaches my ears a confused tintinnabulum from
without。 It is the noise of my contemporaries。 My neighbors tell
me of their adventures with famous gentlemen and ladies； what
notabilities they met at the dinner…table； but I am no more
interested in such things than in the contents of the Daily Times。
The interest and the conversation are about costume and manners
chiefly； but a goose is a goose still； dress it as you will。 They
tell me of California and Texas； of England and the Indies； of the
Hon。 Mr。 … of Georgia or of Massachusetts； all transient and
fleeting phenomena； till I am ready to leap from their court…yard
like the Mameluke bey。 I delight to come to my bearings not walk
in procession with pomp and parade； in a conspicuous place； but to
walk even with the Builder of the universe； if I may not to live
in this restless； nervous； bustling； trivial Nineteenth Century； but
stand or sit thoughtfully while it goes by。 What are men
celebrating？ They are all on a committee of arrangements； and
hourly expect a speech from somebody。 God is only the president of
the day； and Webster is his orator。 I love to weigh； to settle； to
gravitate toward that which most strongly and rightfully attracts
me not hang by the beam of the scale and try to weigh less not
suppose a case； but take the case that is； to travel the only path I
can； and that on which no power can resist me。 It affords me no
satisfaction to commerce to spring an arch before I have got a solid
foundation。 Let us not play at kittly…benders。 There is a solid
bottom everywhere。 We read that the traveller asked the boy if the
swamp before him had a hard bottom。 The boy replied that it had。
But presently the traveller's horse sank in up to the girths； and he
observed to the boy； 〃I thought you said that this bog had a hard
bottom。〃 〃So it has；〃 answered the latter； 〃but you have not got
half way to it yet。〃 So it is with the bogs and quicksands of
society； but he is an old boy that knows it。 Only what is thought；
said； or done at a certain rare coincidence is good。 I would not be
one of those who will foolishly drive a nail into mere lath and
plastering； such a deed would keep me awake nights。 Give me a
hammer； and let me feel for the furring。 Do not depend on the
putty。 Drive a nail home and clinch it so faithfully that you can
wake up in the night and think of your work with satisfaction a
work at which you would not be ashamed to invoke the Muse。 So will
help you God； and so only。 Every nail driven should be as another
rivet in the machine of the universe； you carrying on the work。
Rather than love； than money； than fame； give me truth。 I sat
at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance； and
obsequious attendance； but sincerity and truth were not； and I went
away hungry from the inhospitable board。 The hospitality was as
cold as the ices。 I thought that there was no need of ice to freeze
them。 They talked to me of the age of the wine and the fame of the
vintage； but I thought of an older； a newer； and purer wine； of a
more glorious vintage； which they had not got； and could not buy。
The style； the house and grounds and 〃entertainment〃 pass for
nothing with me。 I called on the king； but he made me wait in his
hall； and conducted like a man incapacitated for hospitality。 The