Life Without Principle

Description

"Life Without Principle" is an essay by Henry David Thoreau that offers his program for a righteous livelihood. In his essay, Thoreau questioned whether working was the most important part of life and argued that work is often at odds with poetry and life. He notes that, when he saw his neighbor in the early morning leading a team of oxen, he at first felt guilty because he was watching from the comfort of his home. However, later he saw the result of the laborer's work--a bit of useless yard art, and his opinion changed. He argues that work ought to be worthwhile, and he insists that he has no need for the "police of meaningless labor" to tell him how to spend his time.He talks of the constant motion of work and business and how people value making-money above all else. Overall, the essay provides a cogent overview of Thoreau's philosophy of work and life.