The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 125 Living in the embrace of nature
[French] Rousseau
If it is a sunny day, my dearest wish is that no letter or visit disturb the tranquility of the day.

I got up earlier than the sun in order to see the sun rise in the garden: if it were a sunny day, my dearest hope was that no letter or visit would disturb the tranquility of the day.I spend my morning doing various chores.Everything is something I am happy to do because it is not an urgent matter that must be dealt with immediately, and then I rush to eat in order to avoid unwelcome visitors and give myself ample afternoon.Even on the hottest day, before noon, I set off with my dog ​​Fanchatte in the scorching sun.Fearing that the uninvited visitor would keep me from getting out, I hastened my pace.

However, as soon as I rounded a corner, I felt that I was saved, so I breathed a sigh of relief excitedly and happily, and said to myself: "I am my own master this afternoon!" To seek a wild corner in the woods, a corner of the wilderness untouched by man and thus free from any imprint of slavery and dominion, a secluded corner which, I believe, has never been visited before me, where there will be no repulsive first The three came running across the gap between nature and me.There, nature unfolded before my eyes a magnificent picture that is always fresh.The golden fuelwood and the purple heather were very luxuriant, and impressed and delighted me; the grandeur of the trees above me, the delicacy of the bushes around me, and the astonishing variety of flowers and plants under my feet dazzled me, and I did not know what to do. To see or to marvel: so many beautiful things competing for my attention, dazzled my eyes, made me linger before each object, and encouraged my lazy and dreamy habits, so that I often thought: "No, the whole body is brilliant Solomon is not comparable to any of them."

My imagination does not allow such a good land to remain uninhabited for long.Immediately I installed the inhabitants there at my own will, and I drove far away public opinion, prejudice, and all false sentiments, and moved into this natural paradise those who deserved so.I shall form them into a gracious society, of which I do not trust myself to be a disproportionate member.I build a golden century according to my liking, and fill this beautiful life with the scenes that I have experienced that left me with sweet memories and the situations that my heart is still yearning for, how I yearn for the true happiness of human beings, so sweet , so pure, but now far removed from human happiness.Even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes!what!If, at this moment, thoughts of Paris, of my century, of my humble vanity as a writer disturb my reverie, I drive them away at once with the utmost contempt, so that I may devote myself to the intoxication which fills my soul. The wonderful feeling!In my reveries, however, I confess that sometimes the nothingness of my fantasies suddenly afflicts my soul.Even if all my dreams come true, I won't be satisfied: I'll have new dreams, new expectations, new visions.I felt in me an inexplicable emptiness that nothing could fill, a yearning for some other pleasure that I could not articulate, but which I felt needed.Yet, sir, even this longing is a joy, for I am filled with a strong feeling and a charming sentimentality--things I would not part with.

Immediately I lifted my thoughts from the low places to all life in nature, to the universal system of things, to the inconceivable God who is sovereign over all.Now my mind is lost in the great world, I stop thinking, I stop meditating, I stop philosophizing: I am delighted, I feel the weight of the universe on my shoulders, I am intoxicated by the mingling of these great ideas, I like to let My imagination is galloping in the space, my heart imprisoned in the boundary of life feels too narrow here, I feel suffocated between heaven and earth, I hope to plunge into an infinite world.I believe that if I could penetrate all the mysteries of nature, I might not experience this amazing ecstasy, but be in a less sweet state: this ecstatic ecstasy with which my soul indulges. The beauty made me sometimes exclaim aloud in my excitement: "O great God! O great God!" But I could neither say nor think anything else.Forgotten, but they will certainly not forget me, but what does it matter?Anyway, they have no way to disturb my peace.

Freed from the worldly passions of the turmoil of social life, my soul has often wandered above this atmosphere, conversing with angels in advance, and hoping to soon enter into it.I know that people will try to avoid giving me back such a luscious retreat, they have long since refused to let me stay there.But they couldn't keep me from flying there every day on the wings of my imagination, and reliving the joy of living there for hours on end.There is one more wonderful thing I can do, and that is that I can imagine as much as I want.If I imagine that I am on the island right now, can I not imagine the same?I might even go a step further, and add to the charm of an abstract, monotonous reverie, and liven it up, by adding some lovely images.What these images represented in my ecstasy, was often unclear even to my senses: now that the reverie deepened, they were drawn more and more clearly.I often live in these images more harmoniously and feel more at ease now than when I was actually there.Unfortunately, as the imagination wanes, these images are less and less likely to come to mind, and they do not last long.well!Just when a person starts to get rid of his body, his sight is blocked most by his body!

Heart mark notes
The mountains in nature are lush and green, tall and straight; the water in nature is clear, bright, charming and delicate; the scenery in nature is both majestic and charming.If so, who doesn't love nature?Who would not want to live in the embrace of nature?

When you walk into nature, you must maintain a natural heart.Let go of all secular duties and go on the road with a light and free mood.Don't be greedy for feasting and feasting, luxury and luxury, don't worry about the bustling, lively, affectionate, and don't be unrestrained and intriguing.Walk into nature with your most sincere thoughts, most sincere emotions, and most true self, so that you can blend with nature.

(End of this chapter)