Quiet desperation

Posted by Victoria S Dennis April 11, 2006In reply to Quiet desperation Posted by David M Conley on April 11, 2006

From Thoreau's quote, what is meant by "quiet desperation" ?

Desperation that is not noisy. Thoreau meant that just because most people get on with their lives are carrying on with their lives quietly, not screaming their heads off or smashing things or drinking themselves insensible, that doesn't mean that inside they aren't suffering terribly.