Henry David Thoreau's Walden - there were a lot of profound thoughts in that book that I think will have a permanent effect on my entire lifestyle, money included.
If he is observing the world from where he's at now, I shudder to think of what his opinion is regarding our materialist lives.
A couple of my favorite quotes are:
"Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind."
"The farmer is endearing to solve the problem of a livelihood by a formula more complicated than the problem itself. To get his shoestrings he speculates in herds of cattle. With consummate skill he has set his trap with a hair spring to catch comfort and independence, and then, as he turned away, got his own leg into it. This is the reason he is poor, and for a similar reason we are all poor in respect to a thousand savage comforts, though surrounded by luxuries… And when the farmer has got his house, he may not be the richer but the poorer for it, and it be the house that has got him."
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