Thoreau presents his time at Walden as an experiment in living deliberately and draws a broader lesson from it. He suggests that people who move with confidence towards a life they have consciously imagined may discover possibilities that are not visible within ordinary routines. The emphasis is on purposeful action rather than passive wishing.

The passage does not define success simply in terms of wealth, status or conventional achievement. In the context of Walden, Thoreau is concerned with shaping a life around considered values and reducing dependence on social expectations. His idea of unexpected success therefore includes greater independence, clarity and alignment between intention and conduct. The quote reflects his wider argument that meaningful change can follow when people test their assumptions about how life must be lived and act consistently with the aims they judge important.