I suspected he wanted me because he thought I would bring money to the community.
Lane was entirely unselfish.
"Alcott was a man of no great intellectual gifts or acquirements.

His knowledge came chiefly from experience and instinct.

He had an insinuating and persuasive way with him--he must have been an ideal pedler." "What if he had been a Catholic, and thoroughly sanctified ?" "He could have been nothing but a hermit like those of the fourth century--he was naturally and constitutionally so odd.

Emerson, Alcott, and Thoreau were three consecrated cranks: rather be crank than president.

All the cranks look up to them." Beside these later reminiscences we shall now place the contemporary record of his impressions made by Isaac Hecker while at Fruitlands.
Our first extract, however, was written at Brook Farm, a few days before going thither: "July 7, 1843 .-- I go to Mr.Alcott's next Tuesday, if nothing happens.