They who know of no purer sources of truth, who have traced up its stream no higher, stand, and wisely stand, by the Bible and the Constitution, and drink at it there with reverence and humanity; but they who behold where it comes trickling into this lake or that pool, gird up their loins once more, and continue their pilgrimage toward its fountainhead.
Help? I don't understand what it means..
2007-01-25 15:43:37 · 4 answers · asked by ace0308 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
It means that if you have a purpose that you believe will affect change in whatever cause your promoting. Then it is worth pursuing even in adversity. In other words "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again".
2007-01-25 16:10:35 · answer #1 · answered by Ole Charlie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fountainhead is where the stream of truth trickles from. They gird up their loins - gather their courage, and continue on (their 'pilgrimage' to the truth).
They who know the.... truth... stand by the Bible and the Constitution. They who behold where it comes (from)... gird up their loins... and continue.
It's about searching for truth.
2007-01-25 15:51:39 · answer #2 · answered by rambling vine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it means that the weak stand on proven historical documents as wise and great as the constitution to lead there lives. those who find truth in natures beauty follow there own path. thoreau believed that only through ones own path can one achieve the supreme benefit. atleast i think that's what it means because that is the basic principle of civil disobedience. it doesn't mean contrary to what the other guy said "try, and try again".
2007-01-26 02:03:15 · answer #3 · answered by hannel19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should trace knowledge to its source...if you've come to understand something after seeking and searching, your understanding will be better and deeper than if you wait for someone to explain it to you. If you haven't come to an understanding of something by your own reason, you should continue in your quest for knowledge until you reach that source. Thoreau thought that reason was the highest form of knowledge, and that humans could learn and understand anything by their own mental powers, without instruction from others, who will by their teaching impart a bit of their understanding on you, keeping you from complete discovery of the truth.
2007-01-25 15:54:03 · answer #4 · answered by bestguessing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋