Abstract
THE simple life, by whose gauge Henry Thoreau measured men and economies, aims at the most complete realization of the perfectibility innate in every person. The man who strives for it is not trying find the way wealth but the way to invent and get a patent for himself. 1 In his youth, Thoreau sought the conditions for such a life in an idealized distortion of the economic order then being displaced by the industrial revolution. After his experiment at Walden Pond, he moved toward a reconciliation between simplicity and an economy of machines and profit. This goal he never reached. But he left behind elements of a critique of our society and intimations of an undiminishable ideal be fought for.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
