"Many dellecosiddette many luxuries and comforts of life are not only unnecessary but also real obstacles to the moral elevation of man. In the case of high luxury and comfort, the wisest have always led a simple life and that of the wretched poor.
[...] When a man is heated in various ways described, what else is missing? course, no more heat of the same species as food most abundant and tasty, the largest and most beautiful homes, better clothes and more numerous, more numerous fires, and keep warm, etc.. When he got these things that are necessary for life, there is another solution, in addition to trying to get the superfluous: ie jump to experiment with life, because now is free from the most humble efforts.
[...] I speak especially to the mass of malcontents who complain about the hardness of their fate passively or times, when they could groped for improvement. There are some who complain most of the other more deeply, inconsolably as they say they are doing their their duty. I also intend to talk to those that are rich in appearance but in fact are the poorest of all, as they have accumulated dross which I use or do not know how to get rid, e che così si sono costruiti con le loro stesse mani catene d'oro o d'argento."
Henry David Thoreau, Walden, ovvero vita nei boschi
