Sometimes, in a summer morning, having taken my accustomed bath, I sat in my sunny doorway from sunrisetill noon, rapt in a revery, amidst the pines and hickories and sumachs, in undisturbed solitude and stillness, while the birds sing around orflitted noiseless through the house, until by the sun falling in atmy west window, or the noise of some traveller's wagon on the distanthighway, I was reminded of the lapse of time. I grew in those seasonslike corn in the night, and they were far better than any work of thehands would have been. They were not time subtracted from my life, butso much over and above my usual allowance. I realized what the Orientalsmean by contemplation and the forsaking of works. For the most part, Iminded not how the hours went. The day advanced as if to light somework of mine; it was morning, and lo, now it is evening, and nothingmemorable is accomplished. Henry David Thoreau
About This Quote

The speaker is recalling a summer morning when he sat in his window enjoying the sun, pines, hickories, and sumac. Although he might be deep in thought, he is at peace with the world around him. At noon, he is distracted by the sound of a wagon on the road outside. This reminds him that the day has passed and that he should get ready for dinner.

The poet is saying that these moments of reflection are better than doing something productive. He feels that he has learned something about himself, even though it may have just been a casual happening. He can remember that time spent sitting in his window as if it were an entire day.

Source: Walden

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