Would you help me with Thoreau, please?

Question

I need help interpreting some Thoreau quotes from "Where I Lived and What I Lived For":

-"Pause! Avast! Why so seeming fast, but deadly slow?"

-"And we are enabled to apprehend at all what is sublime and noble only by the perpetual instilling and drenching of the reality that surrounds us."

-"Be it life or death, we crave only reality."

-"Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundless truths, while reality is fabulous."

I have an idea of what Thoreau means, but I am having trouble explaining it coherently. Could you please paraphrase the quotes for me?

Answer 1

I" have an idea of what Thoreau means, but I am having trouble explaining it coherently. Could you please paraphrase the quotes for me?"


I'll try for you,


-"Pause! Avast! Why so seeming fast, but deadly slow?" =

Wait! Hold on! How can it appear so fast and yet so slow?


-"And we are enabled to apprehend at all what is sublime and noble only by the perpetual instilling and drenching of the reality that surrounds us." =

We are only able to comprehend what is good and right, what is noble, by suffering the reality of darkness first


-"Be it life or death, we crave only reality." =

We must know the truth, wether it means life or death


-"Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundless truths, while reality is fabulous." =

Fantasy will not fulfill you, but truth will set you free




I hope it helps.

Answer 2

"Pause, Avast" We are at full tilt to make a buck, to be the best, to make our mark in the world and, yet, what will we have when we have gained it all? We still want more. He is telling us to pursue a nobler goal--spiritual insight, knowledge, realisation.

Thoreau is a mystic and is attempting to awaken us with admonitions to know the truth, the reality that this life is a sham and that reality is hidden behind the veil of Maya or illusion. All reality, truth, bliss, and love await within us if we were but to turn away from the outer to the Inner life.