New World Destiny

February 2

Sir Francis Head says that in America "the moon looks larger" than in Europe. The same writer says, "the heavens of America appear infinitely higher," "the stars are brighter."

These are encouraging facts, symbolical of the height to which the philosophy and poetry and religion of her inhabitants may one day

soar. For I believe that climate does thus react on man, and that there is something in the mountain air that feeds the spirit and inspires. Are not these advantages of the New World?

February 2, 2022

our sky bluer

We shall be more imaginative; we shall be clearer, as our sky, bluer, fresher; broader and more comprehensive in our understanding, like our plains; our intellect on a grander scale, like our thunder and lightning, our rivers and our lakes, and mountains and forests.

Will not man grow to greater perfection intellectually as well as physically under these influences? Or is it unimportant how many foggy days there are in his life?

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, February 2, 1852

Thoreau on American Destiny

I believe that climate does react on man. 

An English traveler tells us that in America Nature has outlined her works on a larger scale, and has painted with brighter colors than the Old World:

"The heavens of America appear infinitely higher, the sky is bluer, the air is fresher, the cold is intenser, the moon looks larger, the stars are brighter, the thunder is louder, the lightning is vivider, the wind is stronger, the rain is heavier, the mountains are higher, the rivers longer, the forests bigger, the plains broader."

As there is something in the mountain-air that feeds the spirit and inspires, I believe man will grow to greater perfection intellectually as well as physically under these influences.

I trust that Americans shall be more imaginative:

• our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal, as our sky;

• our understanding more comprehensive and broader, like our plains;

• our intellect generally on a grander scale, like our thunder and lightning, rivers, mountains and forests.

Else to what end does the world go on, and why was America discovered?

H.D Thoreau, Walking (1861)
(see Journal, February 2, 1852)