I am alone from early dawn to late at night; no one to intrude upon my quiet except Mr.Bradford, who occupies the hour between twelve and one to hear my recitations, and Mrs.Thoreau a few minutes in making my bed in the mornings.

The rest of my time is devoted to study, communion, and, a little of it, to reading.

How unlike the life at home! "The thought just occurs to me that if such a life seems desirable to you, how easily you could obtain it.

What is it that costs so much labor of mind and body?
Is it not that which we consume on and in our bodies?
Then, if we reduce the consumption there will be less need of production.

Most of our labor is labor for the body.