Transcendentalist Beliefs

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Transcendentalists find their roots in the belief that nature is sacred and that there is more value in the individual than in the group. One such transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau, expressed these ideals in many of his writings. Namely, he has expressed time and time again that you will only get out of life what you put into it. His essays exemplify this ideal in a number of ways, including searching for happiness, living life to its fullest, and maintaining a positive mindset. In “Conclusion” by Henry David Thoreau, the concept of searching for happiness and meaning in life despite hardships is extremely prevalent. In particular, Thoreau says, “The fault-finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may …show more content…
In this quote, Thoreau states that he fears that, at the end of his life, he will discover that he has missed many opportunities that had been available to him in his younger years. Thoreau seems to urge the reader to discover what interests them, try new things, and take every avenue open. He believes that in doing this, one will live life to the fullest and will experience the most true and raw version of living that is possible. In addition, Thoreau also seems to take the stance that those who do not seek out their true happiness will die having lived a shallow life with deep regrets. Whether this death is the true end of life or the end of the will to explore does not seem to matter in this instance, as either would result in the empty sorrow of having wasted the one life granted to a person. Thoreau actively attempted to combat this in both his life and his writings, pushing not only himself but also those who would go on to read his works to live to be their ‘truest selves’. To Thoreau, it did not matter if what made him happy was different from what made society happy. In the end, what was truly important was finding both his fulfillment as well as his ‘place’ in the …show more content…
Why should I feel lonely? Is our planet in the “Milky Way” (Thoreau, “Solitude”)? While Thoreau combats the concept of true loneliness in this quote, he also exemplifies that, by maintaining a positive mindset, one can find happiness in life. Despite others criticizing his choice of a solitary, druidic lifestyle, Thoreau reasoned by arguing that it is immensely difficult to ever truly be alone. Because of this mindset, he was able to continue on with what made him happy, regardless of the comments of others. Rather than dwell on his lack of companionship, he instead found companions in the stars and the life surrounding him. Though it was not human life, Thoreau seemed to not mind the distinction. In this, the lesson of mindset becomes clear: those who can remain positive can prevail and will achieve anything they put their minds to. Whether one is ridiculed or not, an uplifting mindset can overcome anything and lead one to their dreams. Throughout all of his writings, Henry David Thoreau teaches that life is only what you make
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