the Thoreau Log.
23 June 1840. Concord, Mass.
Thoreau writes in his journal:

  We Yankees are not so far from right, who answer one question by asking another. Yes and No are lies. A true answer will not aim to establish anything, but rather to set all well afloat. All answers are in the future, and day answereth to day. Do we think we can anticipate them?

  In Latin, to respond is to pledge one’s self before the gods to do faithfully and honorably, as a man should, in any case. This is good.

(Journal, 1:149-150)

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