ipl-logo

Aphorism In Henry David Thoreau's Life

412 Words2 Pages

“Nobody buys a drill because they want a drill, they buy one because they want a hole.” It is not always what you want, but what you ultimately need that drives our desires. Thoreau says it in this way, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” For the commercial fisherman, it is a living he is after. It takes money to have a home and feed a family. For the sport fisherman it is often a way of being isolated or solitude of a mountain stream. In other words, the quote means people often think “they are going fishing”, but in reality they are seeking something that fulfills their life and their dreams. Henry’s aphorism can apply to today’s society. One might interpret that people in today’s

Show More
Related

  • Ethos In The Works Of Thoreau And The King

    486 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both Thoreau and King rely heavily on ethos to get their points across. The intended audience of both is similar; a group of people with similar morals as the writers, but who have neglected action for various reasons. King also appeals to pathos, describing the plight of the colored man vividly. King’s audience is largely aware of this situation already, but he uses it to drive them to action rather than simple awareness. On the other hand, Thoreau appeals little to pathos, focusing instead on logic and ethics.

    Read More

  • Extended Metaphors In Henry David Thoreau's Hu

    259 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thoreau uses extended metaphors to convey his frustration and disapproval towards the government by comparing man and the government to thoughtless machines. He states that “the mass of men serve the states thus, not as men, but as machines….(Thoreau, 941)” He uses metaphors similar to this one to better get across the loss of individuality of the people and drastic change into uniform and thoughtless machines without a moral compass, for when people become machine-like they act unjust and without acknowledgment of the consequences their actions can have, such as soldiers participating in war (mentioned in paragraph two). This idea of a lack of human individuality and integrity goes against Thoreau’s views on the world at large. Thoreau again

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Thoreau And Mccandless

    443 Words  | 2 Pages

    –Lack of interest in materials is only one of the many different ways McCandless and Thoreau can connect

    Read More

  • Thoreau's Sacrifice

    650 Words  | 3 Pages

    I have felt the sunrise. Rays of light refract through shadows of bare soldiers frozen mid battle. The murmurs of life silently pause to admire the sun's song. Nighttime slithers away, leaving the coldest moments of the day to juxtapose the warm hues dancing on the horizon. These actions begin each day, yet I cannot imagine another human ever feeling the light approach as I have.

    Read More

  • Thoreau's Apology

    314 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of Thoreau’s basic ideas Socrates would agree with is that a man should always take actions which his conscience deems righteous regardless of the magnitude of their consequences. In Apology, Socrates showed no remorse that his deeds have put him on a trial because he believed that a wise man who knows that he has done nothing wrong should not fear death itself. He would certainly agree with Henry Thoreau who wrote in his essay, “Civil Disobedience”, that it is way more important to seek justice in this world than respect the laws which a man earnestly condemns. Thoreau discussed the unpopularity people possess for the men who act according to their own values and Socrates claimed to be one of these men as he refused to defy his morals

    Read More

  • Thoreau On Civil Disobedience

    1359 Words  | 6 Pages

    Active Participant Through Pacifist Disobedience Thoreau's, “On Civil Disobedience”, emphasizes the significant roles that authenticity and activism play in one’s life, which encourage action and renounce determinism. By presenting the main ideas that arise from this essay, I will argue that Thoreau, along with Locke’s Treatise of Government, exhibits ideas affiliated with Libertarianism. In contrast to the belief that a priori knowledge is the only kind of knowledge that expresses certainty about ontological truths, which is independent of external experience, Transcendentalism advances the idea that there is also an internal a priori kind of knowledge which is reliable and expresses each individual’s truth. According to the book, American

    Read More

  • Examples Of Thoreau's Work Ethic

    995 Words  | 4 Pages

    Thoreau’s Work Ethic In Walden , Henry David Thoreau explains to the reader that time should not be spent on meaningless work but instead living life to the fullest. The reason why he believed that meaningless work was a waste of time is because it does not allow one to be free but instead makes one feel enslaved with long hours accomplishing absolutely nothing. Millennials in the 21st century feel that their work can be meaningless and want to explore better opportunities. When millennials do this it causes problems for employers to keep workers and also causes millennials to have a harder time trying to find another job because employers do not want those kind of workers working for them.

    Read More

  • Metaphors In Thoreau's Civil Obedience

    194 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Thoreau's "Civil Obedience" metaphor and parallelism are utilized to support his notion that the government fails to be one that is satisfactory. Thoreau's usage of metaphor expresses the uselessness that the government is. He writes, " It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves..." Here, Thoreau compares the government to a wooden gun, saying that it is as useless as one. He believes that the government is but a wooden gun to the people meaning that it is as useful for the people as a wooden gun would help a person, not useful at all.

    Read More

  • Thoreau's Rhetorical Devices In 'Civil Disobedience'

    269 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the passage from "Civil Disobedience," the author, Thoreau, utilizes rhetorical devices to support his theme. Such devices include tone and diction. The theme expressed in the text is that the government is in need of change and acceptance, not a replacement. The author conveys a serious and professional tone throughout the passage. This helps add more to the seriousness of the subject and theme created which is the government needs change and acceptance, not a replacement.

    Read More

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Of Civil Disobedience By Thoreau

    422 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history there have been many political changes that are either supported, or not, by citizens. In the given passage from, "Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, a perspective of disagreeing with the government ways, is provided. Thoreau explains how a government should be in comparison to how it really is by utilizing his words to set the tone and mode, imagery to achieve his audience's understanding, and diction to make his writing scholarly. Although tone and mode are not directly stated, you can infer that Thoreau meant for his writing to be taken as serious and powerful. His implementation of words such as, "inexpedient," "execute," " integrity," and "command," makes one think about their lawful rights and reflect on what rights are supported or

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Techniques in Henry David Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience'

    1273 Words  | 6 Pages

    Near the beginning of his renowned essay, "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau appeals to his fellow citizens when he says, "...I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. " This request serves as a starting point from which the rest of "Civil Disobedience" emerges. Thoreau 's essay is particularly compelling because of its incorporation of rhetorical strategies, including the use of logos, ethos, pathos, purposive discourse, rhetorical competence and identification. I will demonstrate how each of these rhetorical techniques benefit Thoreau 's persuasive argument. Thoreau uses logos throughout his essay to strengthen his argument with reasoning.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices Used In Walden

    518 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the chapter “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For” in “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau it says what it 's about practically in the name “where I lived, and what I lived for”. which by saying a rhetorical device it would be deductive reasoning there would be plenty of deductive reasoning in “where I lived, and what I lived for”. When I read “Where I lived ,and What I lived for” I saw in my perspective a guy that wanted to find a meaning in life, maybe it 's because it 's what I want to do and my brain is just analyzing it as if I’m perpetuating myself in his shoes or mindset . Thoreau seemed like he knows what to do and why to do it as if he wasn 't accidentally halting a risk he even said why he went to the woods. Thoreau exclaimed “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately” he wanted to be free.

    Read More

  • Thoreau And Civil Disobedience

    1198 Words  | 5 Pages

    What Thoreau means by the Civil Disobedience is that every person should be govern more by his own moral compass that gives him much clearer answer to his deeds, rather than some laws of a government. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience, then? I think we should be men first, and subjects afterward.” (1)

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Where I Lived For, By Henry David Thoreau

    889 Words  | 4 Pages

    The purpose of Where I Lived, and What I Lived for, by Henry David Thoreau is to express that life should be lived with simplicity and with purpose. His advanced syntax and high vocabulary makes this passage difficult to read, while giving the reader a challenge. His use of rhetorical devices throughout the passage also helps convey his message about the purpose of life. In the first set of paragraphs, he introduces that he moved into the woods, so he could enjoy the many things nature has to offer deliberately. He compares humans to ants when he says that “we live meanly, like ants.”

    Read More

  • Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

    1371 Words  | 6 Pages

    Individuals lay the foundation of America. The Founding Fathers of this unique nation broke their allegiance with Great Britain to create an improved governing body. They desired an individual-centered authority as opposed to Britain’s monarchy, which ruled with tyranny. These Founding Fathers experienced a neglectful democratic monarchy that cared little about the ethical treatment of its people. The domineering actions of Britain challenged these historic individuals to form a new cultural identity.

    Read More

More about Aphorism In Henry David Thoreau's Life

Open Document