There are some who believe that the mind is a blank tablet, on which experience is writ until the page be full, and the cryptic world is known; but I see rather that my own life hath been one long forgetting, the erasure of what was drawn, a terrible redaction; til all that remains is blank white and comfortless. I know not what we have been; I know not what we are; but I know what we might be. And so I light out for the unknown regions. M.T. Anderson
About This Quote

Thoreau wrote, “There are some who believe that the mind is a blank tablet, on which experience is writ until the page be full, and the cryptic world is known; but I see rather that my own life hath been one long forgetting, the erasure of what was drawn, a terrible redaction; til all that remains is blank white and comfortless.I know not what we have been; I know not what we are; but I know what we might be.And so I light out for the unknown regions.” In this quote, Thoreau is offering a different perspective. He believes that our minds are not blank slates upon which experience can be written. Instead, he sees that our minds are filled with memories of our experiences in life. The memories themselves form the basis for how we progress throughout our lives. Rather than relying on his experiences to write his life story, he wants to go out into the world and see where it leads him.

Source: The Kingdom On The Waves

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