THE LIFE WORTH LIVING. 189 



So long as we continue to live in crowds 

 there must be an infinite amount of contact 

 with human nature which is petty, mean, 

 despicable. We cannot escape from it. While 

 in Rome we must do as the Romans. I confess 

 that if my fellow-man is typified in the crowd 

 I see around me, especially in large cities, I 

 detest my fellow-man. It may be the height 

 of selfishness for the egoist to say: "These 

 people have nothing good to teach me; I can 

 gain nothing from them ; let them keep to 

 themselves and allow me to strive for some- 

 thing higher, untrammelled by their association, 

 or their advice." But such a course maybe wise &. k"u 

 in order to make the most of what little capi-^/^ 

 tal we have fallen heir to in the shape of health, 

 intelligence, and appreciation of things which are ^ 

 priceless in every sense, such as the sunlight 

 and the color of the clouds. To get rid of un- 

 pleasant and seemingly unprofitable associa- 

 tions Thoreau cut loose from society and buried 

 himself at Walden. You may call it selfish- 

 ness, if you will, but which is more likely to 

 occur : that you will sink to the level of the 

 crowd which surrounds you, or that, by taking 

 up your cross and remaining at your post, the 



