Thoreau's prose has statements of proverbs or epigrams. Select a statement that's proverbial in nature and explain how its meaning can apply to our...

One of the
greatest thinkers in American history, , a Transcendentalist, perceived nature as the doorway to
the mystical world holding important truths.  For this reason, he went into the woods
"deliberately" so that he could arrive at certain truths. Certainly, his work,
, expresses profound truths which Thoreau arrived at by means of his
contemplation of nature.  One of these truths, or epigrams is found in the chapter entitled
"Economy":

Most men, even in this
comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the
factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked
by them.

Thoreau continues,

....He has no time to be anything but a machine....The finest
qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate
handling.

Probably now, more so than in his time,
Thoreau's observation is true, as people are so occupied with work and the acquisition of
material goods that, while they provide material things for themselves and their children, they
neglect the nurturing of their souls through walks in nature, through listening to real music,
to visiting art museums, attending plays, etc.  In short, they neglect the aesthetic part of
life found in the fine arts.  Most importantly, they do not devote enough of their lives to the
nurturing of the family bond between them and their children through meaningful activities with
their children, real engagement with their families in vacations, family outings such as
picnics, boating, etc.  People must nurture the "fruit" of life, their souls, if they
truly wish to feel fulfilled and happy and loved.