I please myself with imagining a State at last which can afford to be just to all men, and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which even would not think it inconsistent with its own repose, if a few were to live aloof from it, not meddling with it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of neighbors and fellow-men.
He would like a world where each person is treated as though they are your neighbor. Everyone is equal and should be treated that way.
He who gives himself entirely to his fellow-men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist.
Those who do nothing get all the credit and are seen as heroes. Those who fight, get injured, and die are seen as merely brave. There is something seriously wrong with that. The men who are risking their lives and losing themselves in war should be seen as the saviors of our country.
I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.
In reality, we still need government but the way it is right now is not beneficial. The government needs to improve so everyone can be helped in some way.
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.
Truth is valued far more than love, money, and fame. Truth is how you feel and how you know how others feel. The other things can leave you depressed or poor.
This alone wears well.
He has discovered that being alone puts less stress on you. You don't age as quickly because you don't have worries or usual stress.
The universe is wider than our views of it.
There is so much more to explore and experience in the world. Our everyday lives consist of the same places, sounds, smells, etc. Even doing something different is still the same. We think this is the world, when in reality there is so much more, we just need to go to it.
if the fairest features of the landscape are to be named after men, let them be the noblest and worthiest men alone.
Beautiful features of land should be named after people who do good for this world. These people have served our country and deserve to have something named after them.
I have thought that perhaps my body would find its way home if its master should forsake it,
Even if you don't know where you're going, you're body/soul will know the way to your true home.
One inconvenience I sometimes experienced in so small a house, the difficulty of getting to a sufficient distance from my guest when we began to utter the big thoughts in big words.
We often wish to escape the different thoughts of our guests. Yet in a small house, we are forced to face them and reply. You can't hid in another room until you find your cool because there is only one room. You have to work on social skills to which you can learn to keep calm whilst people say things that are very rude to you. Therefore the smaller house gives you control.
how I could bring my mind to give up so many of the comforts of life.
By living alone in the woods, he would give up his usual comforts. He wouldn't have neighbors to borrow sugar from. He wouldn't be close to society and therefore he all alone. He would have to be settled in silence for there would be a lot of it.
There were times when I could not afford to sacrifice the bloom of the present moment to any work, whether of the head or hands.
Work is an important part of live, but it should not overrule everything. When a once and a live time moment or a "bloom" comes along, don't give that moment to work. Whether it's physical work or mental work. Give yourself a break and just enjoy the moment.
but I never got my fingers burned by actual possession.
Possession can lead to greed. By making everything he owned and owning very little, he avoided this. He will never be subjected to "the more you have, the richer you are". I respect this because many people get lost in possession.