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Thursday, January 23, 2025

Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.

Henry David Thoreau

Best known for his book “Walden,” a series of essays about his time living alone in nature, American writer Henry David Thoreau prioritized personal values above societal expectations. Following his transcendentalist belief in spirituality and simple virtues, Thoreau often advocated living life in a way that is both fulfilling and impactful. In these words from an 1848 letter to his friend Harrison Blake, the writer implores us to endeavor to find a reason to be good people beyond just knowing that we should be. Having some sort of solid motivation to back us up increases our chances of becoming the kind of people we’d be proud of.

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Fill in the blank: "___ doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread." - Ursula K. Le Guin

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