Please explain the following quotation by thoreau.?

Question

What is he trying to say when he says, "do not go where the path may lead, but go instead where there is no path and leave no trail."

PLEASE interpret this quote.

Answer 1

Make your own life your own--- explore new things and places.

Answer 2

Make your own path. Create your own story. And do it so that you don't leave a mark behind you so that others can create their own path as well just as if you were never there.

Its by Ralph Waldo Emerson not Thoreau.

Answer 3

My take on this quote is that he was saying to try to be your own person and do things your way, not necessarily doing what is considered the normal thing, as dictated by society. Don't always go the easy way, but instead find what works for you and try new things, be resourceful and different. The "leave no trail" thing may mean to make sure that whatever you are doing, make sure that you are not harming others, or leaving a wake of destruction after you, or making choices that will not only affect you adversely, but others also. That part is very vague.

Answer 4

do your own thing and dont worry about what others think?

Answer 5

The real quote is: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave A trail" and is by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I'm sure others have said this, too. But this is the real one.

It means: Don't follow others on the path used by all (the safe and not so great one), but create your own path and get to where you wanna be by going on a different path, making your own way there, and showing others there are other ways...

The way your quote goes would be more like don do things like others but do your thing and make sure no one knows how you did it. This is the quote of conniving people who want to get away with everything. Don't follow this quote, but follow the real one.

Answer 6

Don't just follow in someone else's footsteps, or don't just follow the crowd, be your own unique person. You lead the way, and leave a "trail" for others to follow.

Answer 7

Don't follow others, instead make your own unique path that is true only to yourself and cannot be copied or followed by others. Be unique.

Answer 8

take the road or route that in narrow and untaken by others. basically be the lead or trend setter but dont boast about it, hence leave no trail.