Chris Tolstoy Quotes

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, it’s what’s inside counts” This quote reminds people about how they should not judge other people from the outside but look deep into their true personalities. Looking from the appearance and how Chris lives, everyone would assume that Chris is a crazy, foolish person and does everything without thinking. If people try to know more about Chris, they would have different perspective. Chris is intelligent, determined, independent and follows what he believes. He went into the wilderness to escape from the society that tries to suppress him and look for the meaning of life.
Chris was an intelligent person through his childhood as well as his trip.
At a young age, Chris was also determined for his decision. When

Jim Gallien hitchhiked Chris at Fairbanks, Gallien and Chris talked for a long time on their way. No matter what Gallien persuasive Chris for contacting to his parents, buying some hiking gear,.. Chris denied all of offers. Gallien had to say that “He was determined. Real gung ho. The words that comes to mind is excited. He couldn’t wait to head out there and get started.” (p. 6) When Chris already decided on doing something, nothing can makes him stop. Chris wanted to do it and he would do it till the end. Chris was not affected by other people’ advise. Another example, in the letter Chris sent to Franz, Chris wrote that “Don’t hesitate or allow yourself to make excuses. Just get out and do it” (p.58) His determination of doing what he want to is transferring to Franz. Chris encouraged Frans to go to the wilderness and would not regret it. Chris had done the same thing and he glad that he chooses to do that. Through his letter to Ron Franz, Chris showed his determination of doing different thing with other people. He went to the trip by himself and enjoyed the nature and did not regret his decision. Chris’s action and saying have shown the determination in Chris when he decided something and did not change it.
From his childhood to his life in wilderness, Chris had shown his independence without other people’s help. For example, when Chris was a child, his parents did not have enough time for taking care of him so he was always with his sister. And that made they was he thought and acted differently. When he was in high school, he was not only take care of himself but also other people. “On weekends, when his high school pals were attending “keggers” and trying to sneak into Georgetown bars, McCandless would wander the seedier quarters of Washington, chatting with prostitutes and homeless people, buying them meals, earnestly suggesting ways they might improve their lives.” (p.1113) Most of high school students usually dependent on their parents, but Chris was not. He took care enough of himself and even watched over other people’s business. He did all the work in order to help those people by himself. Another example of when he was in the wilderness. Chris had to take care of himself in order to continue to live. He hunted animals like squirrels, birds, … and ate edible plants. He survived for a long time. Chris was independent and did not have any support from other people. Even though that the people Chris met offered him something, he denied it. Because he had the independence in order to live by himself in the harsh condition of the wilderness. Chris had shown his independence since he was a high school student and that personality had kept him to alive in a long time.
Chris is a type of person that follows what he believe especially if that beliefs related to Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau and Jack London.

In one the passage was highlighted in the book “Family Happiness” that Chris brought with, the author Leo Tolstoy talked about how a person's life should be. “I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. … which found no outlet in our quiet life.” (p.15) Tolstoy explained how a life should be excited and interesting not just living day by day without any enjoyment. Chris followed his beliefs. He believes that he should live a life that he would not regret later on. That could be one of his reason he was going into the wild to make an excited life. Another passage was also found with McCandless’s belongings is from Henry David Thoreau’ “Walden”. “All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself. … a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched.” (p.47) This passage explains the fact that happiness can found in nature. McCandless wanted to found his purpose of his life and Thoreau stated about the importance of the nature. And McCandless believed Thoreau. If Chris McCandless had believed some authors, he would follows that in his whole

life.