This painting of Henry David Thoreau is from Robert Shetterly's book of portraits "American's that Tell the Truth"
I was lucky enough to grow in the same Concord woods where Henry wrote Walden and Civil Disobedience. My cross country team jogged daily past the small, low lying pile of stones where he once lived. Hot summer nights were spent sneaking along Walden pond's path to reach the cool water for a moonlit swim.
There's nothing like the timeless wisdom of Thoreau:
"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something."
"How does it become a man to behave towards the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it."
"Being is the great explainer."
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
