“I know of no more encouraging fact that the unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture or carve a statue and so to make a few things beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.”  – Thoreau