Thoreau writes in his journal:
I have been surveying for twenty or thirty days, living coarsely, even as respects my diet,—for I find that will always alter to suit my employment,—indeed, leading quite a trivial life; and to-night, for the first time, I had made a fire in my chamber and endeavored to return to myself. I wished to ally myself to the powers that rule the universe. I wished to dive into some deep stream of thoughtful and devoted life, which meandered through retired and fertile meadows far from towns . . . I wished to live, ah! as far away as a man can think . . .
