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The Center for Artificial Indifference

The Smell of Sanity…

It does the soul good to occasionally drop by and read a bit of Thoreau’s Journal. The entry from Septermber 25, 1851, resonates as much today as it did on the edge of Walden Pond in 1851.

Some men are excited by the smell of burning powder, but I thought in my dream last night how much saner to be excited by the smell of new bread. — Henry David Thoreau

6 Comments so far

  1. bmo September 27th, 2006 5:52 am

    Liking that one a lot.

  2. MaryB September 27th, 2006 1:54 pm

    Or pie. The smell of new pie would be good. Or cupcakes. But, yeah, new bread beats the heck outta gunpowder.

    I think I’ll run out and look for a bakery right now . . .

  3. Joy September 27th, 2006 4:39 pm

    Let’s see…new bread? gunpowder? Yep, I’m going with the bread; plus it’s a whole lot safer…unless, of course, you burn yourself making that bread.

    Oh that Thoreau guy…keeps us thinking, doesn’t he Winston?

  4. Paul September 28th, 2006 5:54 am

    Freshly baked bread -the smell of it-is wonderfulL !

  5. Rain September 28th, 2006 9:45 am

    Great quote. I have a wonderful bread machine which gets used regularly– half of its pleasure is from the fragrance throughout the house while it does the work. Turning out a perfectly shaped loaf onto a board to cool is also pleasing. I liked making sweet rolls by kneading them myself as their dough is softer and very pleasing to work, but then I have to find someone to give them to who can afford the calories which sure ain’t me.

  6. Kay Dennison September 29th, 2006 10:54 pm

    I’m so glad that someone else considers Thoreau a must re-read. His wisdom is timeless and this is a particularlt good read. I used to love to bake bread when my kids were growing — the smell was pure heaven and kneading and punching it down was wonderful therapy. No bread machines for me! Thanks!