Page:Writings of Henry David Thoreau (1906) v7.djvu/291

1841] He that comes as a stranger to my house will have to stay as a stranger. He has made his own reception. But persevering love was never yet refused.

The former consider the length of their service, the latter its quality.

The most ardent lover holds yet a private court, and his love can never be so strong or ethereal that there will not be danger that judgment may be rendered against the beloved.

I would have men make a greater use of me. Now I must belittle myself to have dealings with them. My friend will show such a noble confidence that I shall aspire to the society of his good opinion. Never presume men less that you may make them more. So far as we respond to our ideal estimate of each other do we have profitable intercourse.

A brave man always knows the way, no matter how intricate the roads.

Feb. 8. All we have experienced is so much gone within us, and there lies. It is the company we keep. One day,