"If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen"

This quote by Henry David Thoreau is a commentary on the values of society. He is suggesting that if an individual invests their time in nature, taking pleasure in and appreciating it, they are seen as lazy and unproductive. However, if they are making use of nature for their own gain, they are viewed as hardworking and effective. Thoreau is slamming the idea that only those who are actively drawing from nature are seen as efficient members of society. He is advocating for a shift in worths, where those who appreciate and protect nature are viewed as just as important as those who exploit it. He is recommending that we should value those who put in the time to value nature, instead of those who are only concentrated on drawing from it.