It had striking beauties which are but seldom found near cities, and never, if suddenly transported thither, could any person have imagined himself within four leagues of Paris.
After abandoning myself for a few days to this rural delirium, I began to arrange my papers, and regulate my occupations.

I set apart, as I had always done, my mornings to copying, and my afternoons to walking, provided with my little paper book and a pencil, for never having been able to write and think at my ease except 'sub dio', I had no inclination to depart from this method, and I was persuaded the forest of Montmorency, which was almost at my door, would in future be my closet and study.

I had several works begun; these I cast my eye over.

My mind was indeed fertile in great projects, but in the noise of the city the execution of them had gone on but slowly.

I proposed to myself to use more diligence when I should be less interrupted.