April 1863

I find Walden entirely open, and I have failed to know on what day; probably on Saturday, nth, and Sunday, 12th.

This running into the Catholic Church is disgusting, just when one is looking amiably round at the culture and performance of the young people, and fancying that the new gene- ration is an advance on the last. Sam Ward says the misfortune is that when the young people have this desire, there is nothing on the other side to offer them instead. And it is true that stoicism, always attractive to the intellectual and cultivated, has now no temples, no acadeniy, no commanding Zeno or Antoninus. It accuses us that it has none, — that pure Ethics is not now formulated and concreted into a cultus, a frater- nity with assemblings and holy days, with song and book, with brick and stone. Why have not those who believe in it, and love it, left all for this, and dedicated themselves to write out its scientific scripture to become its Vulgate for millions ? I answer, for one, that the inspira- tions we catch of this law are not continuous and technical, but joyful sparkles and flashes, and are recorded for their beauty, for the delight they give, not for their obligation; and that is their priceless good to men that they charm and uplift ; not that they are imposed. These words out of heaven are imparted to happy uncon- trollable Pindars, Hafizes, Shakspeares, and not to Westminster assemblies of divines.