DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52538#0078
68
tion. . . . No wonder that out of such a union, not as
an end but as an accompaniment, conies the undying race of
man. . . . the offspring of noble men and women . as
superior to themselves as their aspirations are.”*
IV.—Love to Mankind.
I.-NOT PHILANTHROPY.
Thoreau’s interpretation of love to mankind bears the
same ideal character as his conception of friendship. There
must be no yielding to the weakness of humanity, no dispro-
portionate care for the material and earthly in life. Love is
by no means synonymous with charity in the narrow sense of
philanthropy. The high value commonly placed upon this
phase of it is but an evidence of our meanness and egotism :
“ Philanthropy is the only virtue which is sufficiently
appreciated by mankind. Nay, it is greatly overrated, and it
is our selfishness which overrates it.
‘' The kind uncles and aunts of the race are more esteemed
than its spiritual fathers and mothers.” f
It is possible to give ourselves more greatly, not merely in
benevolence, which is, ” as it were, but stem and leaves,” but
the whole flower and fruit of our lives. Thoreau considered
the force of his life’s example his peculiar gift to the Ameri-
can people. Even to those whose need demanded material
relief, its simplicity could bring the surest aid :
‘ ‘ We can render the best assistance by letting men see how
rare a thing it is to need any assistance. I am not in haste to
help men any more than God is.” j
2. UNIVERSAL IN CHARACTER.
Thoreau had for himself solved the problem of eradi-
cating the struggle for subsistence from his life, hence his
sympathy went out to his fellow-men not on account of their
weakness and need, bid in spite of it—above and beyond it—in
* “ Chastity and Sensuality,” Letters, p. 250-251.
t Walden, p. 121-122.
f Winter, p. 213.
tion. . . . No wonder that out of such a union, not as
an end but as an accompaniment, conies the undying race of
man. . . . the offspring of noble men and women . as
superior to themselves as their aspirations are.”*
IV.—Love to Mankind.
I.-NOT PHILANTHROPY.
Thoreau’s interpretation of love to mankind bears the
same ideal character as his conception of friendship. There
must be no yielding to the weakness of humanity, no dispro-
portionate care for the material and earthly in life. Love is
by no means synonymous with charity in the narrow sense of
philanthropy. The high value commonly placed upon this
phase of it is but an evidence of our meanness and egotism :
“ Philanthropy is the only virtue which is sufficiently
appreciated by mankind. Nay, it is greatly overrated, and it
is our selfishness which overrates it.
‘' The kind uncles and aunts of the race are more esteemed
than its spiritual fathers and mothers.” f
It is possible to give ourselves more greatly, not merely in
benevolence, which is, ” as it were, but stem and leaves,” but
the whole flower and fruit of our lives. Thoreau considered
the force of his life’s example his peculiar gift to the Ameri-
can people. Even to those whose need demanded material
relief, its simplicity could bring the surest aid :
‘ ‘ We can render the best assistance by letting men see how
rare a thing it is to need any assistance. I am not in haste to
help men any more than God is.” j
2. UNIVERSAL IN CHARACTER.
Thoreau had for himself solved the problem of eradi-
cating the struggle for subsistence from his life, hence his
sympathy went out to his fellow-men not on account of their
weakness and need, bid in spite of it—above and beyond it—in
* “ Chastity and Sensuality,” Letters, p. 250-251.
t Walden, p. 121-122.
f Winter, p. 213.