Most of the luxuries, and many the so called comforts of life, are not only not indispensable, but positive hinderances to the elevations of mankind. With respect to luxuries and comforts, the wisest have ever lived a more simple and meager life than the poor. The ancient philosophers, Chinese, Hindoo [sic], Persian, and Greek, were a class than which none has been poorer in outward riches, none so rich in inward. We know not much about them. It is remarkable that we know so much of them as we do. The same is true of the more modern reformers and benefactors of their race. None can be an impartial or wise observer of human life but from the vantage ground of what we shall call voluntary poverty.
—Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Digitized on 2024-07-06 (July 06, 2024) from CoEvolution No. 14, page 003