... Thoreau, nature was a living being. He wanted to do more than just enjoy its beauty. Thoreau wrote, "Every creature is better alive than dead, men and moose and pine-trees, and he who understands it aright will rather preserve its life than destroy it" (Hough 263). Thoreau did ... was wasting his time. Many people thought transcendentalism was for crazy people. Others always asked, "Why doesn't he ever do anything? He's always just walking around" (Burleigh 5). He was always finding small insignificant, out of the way things to excite him, or call forth a memorable phrase. Thoreau belie...

• Word Count: 2165
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School