Fishing for Outcome

Commonly , fellow citizens , they did not think that

they were lucky or well-paid for their time

 unless they got a long string of fish,

though they had the opportunity of seeing the pond all the while!

They might go there a thousand times
before the sediment of fishing would go to the bottom and
leave their purpose pure!

But no doubt such a clarifying purpose would be going on all the while!

Authors

Henry David Thoreau