Preview

Analysis Of Civil Disobedience: Breaking The Law

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
410 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Analysis Of Civil Disobedience: Breaking The Law
“If the law requires you to be the agent of injustice, then, I say, break the law” (Henry Thoreau) This famous quote is taken from the famous essay Civil Disobedience written in 1848, Civil Disobedience still stands as an expression of moral and individual conscience against a un just government. To begin, the quote written by Henry Thoreau, “If the law requires you to be the agent of injustice, then, I say, break the law” is essentially saying If following the law results in a wrong done to another person, then do not follow the law, and that morals from human to human come before government rules or laws resulting in disobedience.
A) Any and all individuals in society regardless of color or social stature have the right and a moral obligation

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Human law and government are subordinate and antagonists to each other. Thoreau proposes that in an instance when each odd is against one another, an individual must choose their own moral path instead of the government path if necessary. Thoreau explains that people are not put in this world to make it a better place to live in, rather than to simply live it. He then describes that it is not man’s duty to devote himself to the moral wrong. It is man’s duty to avoid the moral wrong. For instance, if the government tells you to either kill your family members or be sent to jail, it is your duty to obey your conscience. Furthermore, Thoreau explains that the majority is not always correct either and thus, do not accurately determine justice. Although government has a place in human existence, man must eventually follow his own moral decisions and disregard human…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Civil Disobedience” by Henry Thoreau warns its readers that we are at the mercy of our government and have no power as a minority that conforms to the majority, which represses our desire to resist the wrongs we believe in without the support of the masses. The place for an honorable, just man is within prison, which he explains through his personal experience. In part 1, Thoreau exposes how the government is without a conscience, susceptible to corruption for their own advantage, and are served not by men but by “machines” (5). We are left “to the mercy of chance” under the power of the majority. Part 2 explains that Thoreau didn’t believe in the voting system so would not pay poll tax, and was sent to jail only to find that he felt more…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thoreau states in the text that this exact lack of scrupulous intentions would affect the decision-making and state of mind of any individual citizen. "If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law." "It is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support." (On Duty of Civil Disobedience.) Thoreau explains that every citizen has the obligation to oppose all unjust occurrences and has his or her own individual responsibility within their own…

    • 624 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau expresses his strong disapproval of the American government. He even makes the following statement: "the best government is the one that governs the least." This quote shows us that Thoreau really does have a strong dislike for the government and that he will rebel against it. Thoreau does in fact rebel against the government by not paying his taxes. This causes him to suffer one night in jail. In his isolation, he is able to think, and concludes that he would rather be in jail than out in the real world.…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sioux Tribe Research Paper

    • 1664 Words
    • 7 Pages

    He follows this up by explaining that “If it is of such nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then I say, break the law.” This also clarifies that when the nature of the law is unjust, then following good conscience resulting in the breaking of the law is actually the duty of the people. According to Thoreau, for a law “to be strictly just, it must have the sanction and consent of the governed.” Strangely enough, Thoreau believes that a citizen’s duty is not to force others to eradicate the wrong by breaking the law, but only eradicate the wrong in one’s own life. Thoreau shows how remove injustice from one’s life in an influential line that reads as…

    • 1664 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Civil Disobedience Dbq

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages

    As of matter of fact, Thoreau fought for the law, individual. He believed that a higher law than civil laws demands the obedience of an individual. Both the human law and government are subordinated, which the individual must follow his…

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    King believes that certain preparations should occur before one participates in direct civil disobedience, including attempting to first negotiate; “In ANY non-violent campaign there ARE four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine if whether injustice exist, negotiation, self-purification and direct action”. These steps serve as a framework for correctly practicing civil disobedience, failing to abide by this framework neglects the alternatives to creating civil unrest. Mindful of the importance of negotiation in constructively breaking the law, Socrates forms his MAIN argument off of the inability to control the ensuing chaos if he WE re to break the law after failing to negotiate. While personifying the law, Socrates speaks for…

    • 199 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Civil disobedience is a form of protest in which protestors deliberately violate a law. Classically, they violate the law they are protesting, such as segregation or draft laws, but sometimes they violate other laws which they find unobjectionable, such as trespass or traffic laws. Most activists who perform civil disobedience are scrupulously non-violent, and willingly accept legal penalties. The purpose of civil disobedience can be to publicize an unjust law or a just cause; to appeal to the conscience of the public; to force negotiation with recalcitrant officials; to "clog the machine" (in Thoreau's phrase) with political prisoners; to get into court where one can challenge the constitutionality of a law; to exculpate oneself, or to put…

    • 1964 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Civil Disobedience is an important aspect of American Society. It provides for individuals and groups to state their opinions in a non-violent way, that should be respected by others to hear their point. Society gets impacted by the use of Civil Disobedience, but there is no easy way to determine if it is helpful or detrimental. Every individual receives the same rights in being able to obey or disobey whatever it is they please.…

    • 512 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Civil disobedience plays a huge role in today's society. For example immigrants coming over to America causes a lot of controversy. Many people feel as though all immigrants are bad and that is not the case. While there are many people who value a dollar not many people in other countries can say the same because they don't have much of anything.When immigrants come over they are breaking the law but in some cases we've had immigrants here who have been her for years and they have not caused any problems. Stereotypes are often formed when people hear things from friends,family,radio,tv and news. When people say that all immigrants are bad it's like says all white people are bad or all black people are bad and ect. I think not letting immigrants…

    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The foremost purpose of a government is to serve its people through the creation and upholding of laws. Too often, unjust laws are passed that turn government into a mechanism of oppression. Without the feedback of the common people, the governing people can never understand the effects of their unjust laws. It is the civic duty of the people of a representative government to speak out against unfair laws, for their voices cannot be heard if they never speak at all.…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Civil Disobedience

    • 365 Words
    • 1 Page

    The act of knowingly breaking a law that one feels is morally or ethically unjust is termed Civil Disobedience. While we all have a perception of right and wrong, the guideline for this thinking is our moral compass. While many individuals may see inequalities or injustices in our society, only a few make a physical stand for what they perceive to be right. Some discourage the use of civil disobedience as a tool that should be used for change, the logic being that it directly contradicts our nation’s democratic system. Others support the peaceful act of protesting or challenging laws that are unjust. It is my opinion that while technically breaking the law, it is necessary as it brings immediate attention to an unjust law. As Martin Luther King Jr. stated and I quote “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.” Perfect examples of civil disobedience used to change laws are the Ms. Rosa Parks incident, as well as the prolonged civil rights movement initiated by Dr. King. While the above mentioned incidents of civil disobedience assisted in bringing attention to and ultimately changing unjust laws, this change was slow and not complete.…

    • 365 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the past, there has been events take place that changed the course of history, and will forever be remembered as a milestone towarding shaping America into the country it is today. There has been ample social injustices occur throughout history, such as segregration and woman voting, that have called for civil disobediance to obtain their goal, such as equality. One small act of disobediance can have a large impact on society. When people commit these acts, such as refusing to give up their seat, it is unlikely they realized the full effect of their action, and what they would set into motion. Civil Disobediance has led to ample changes in the world.…

    • 1343 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Civil Disobedience

    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Henry David Thoreau wrote in his book Civil Disobedience: "Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right." (Henry David Thoreau Quotes) This is the quote which I had at the top of my mind while I completed my week of Civil Disobedience. According to Merriam- Webster dictionary the definition of civil disobedience is “the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest” (Definition of Civil Disobedience) My project acted upon civil disobedience because throughout this week I would sit anywhere I wanted in Chemistry because in that class we had assigned seats, this project broke the classroom rules of my chemistry class which portrays an act of civil disobedience. I believe students should have the right to sit anywhere they pursue in class because they know their own capabilities.…

    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As many know, Civil disobedience is the act of opposing a law one considers unjust and peacefully disobeying it while accepting the consequences. As an African American, and a woman for that- as once said, "Well-behaved women hardly make history." That quote applies for everyone in general- how can one promote change if no one will take the first step towards it? Growing up we learn from an early age of all the brave men and women in history who have shaped what we know today. Whether it is through history classes, peers, mentors, parents, friends- we learn from those before us. Yes it is true, not everyone agrees with everything but that's where new ideas are formed- if we all agreed we would have no change. Imagine what the world would be like, what the U.S would…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays