Simplify, Simplify

In his relatively brief life, Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) wrote a number of philosophical, sparsely-worded proverbs inspired by his observations of life. One of the most quoted ones is: “Simplify, simplify.” It was the result of a two-year stay at Walden Pond. With the quote, Thoreau suggests that doing away with certain trappings of life can bring contentment. How do we define and apply this concept in the modern world? After all, Thoreau wrote before cars, computers, and smartphones owned us.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “simplify” as: “to make simple or simpler, to reduce to basic elements, to diminish in scope or complexity.” An easy concept to understand; less easy to apply to life. In terms of engineering and technology, most inventions aim to simplify a given task. Ironically, they tend to be highly complicated mechanisms. This is especially true with motorcycles.