Phrases

Lately one of my favorite phrases from Thoreau has been tumbling around in my mind: "The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us." What does this mean, exactly? That anything in its extreme may undo itself? That ultimate knowledge of truth will bring only confusion?

The ending of Walden follows that sentence-- it always makes my spine tingle: "Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star." The first sentence strikes me a warning; the next, as a promise; the last, as apocalyptic prophesy. How he knows these things I can't say, but I rather tend to believe him.