Henry David Thoreau |
This is a quote from Henry David Thoreau, a writer that I greatly admire:
"Say the thing with which you labor--it is a waste of time for the writer to use his talents merely. Be faithful to your genius ---Write in the strain that interests you most---Consult not the popular taste."I admit that I struggle a lot with deciding how much to write for the public, the views, and how much to write for myself and for what interests me.
According to Thoreau, we should write according to our "genius," and what interests us. Henry David Thoreau was not much of a "winner" in the eyes of his peers. He struggled to get his writing recognized, was delinquent in his taxes, and lived in a cabin.
That was just as weird then, and it would be now. But his writing is beautiful, and I am very inspired by Henry David Thoreau, who wanted to "live deliberately."
Can we do that? Write according to our genius, no matter what the cost? Thoreau's work never took off until many, many years after his death. His words were memorialized for movie goers in the movie, Dead Poets Society, for a new generation.
How much am I willing to write from the heart, and go with what I feel my purpose is, rather than focus on what I think people think I should write about? I ask myself that question today. I think it's a good question to ask!
Love Sharilee.
If you are interested in more quotes about journaling, check out this great list of quotes about journaling.
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