Civil Disobedience and Other Essays Response Questions
Question Responses to Henry David Thoreau 's Civil Disobedience
6 claims Henry David Thoreau made in his essay: • "I heartily accept the motto,__ 'That government is best which governs least; ' and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically." (Page one; Section one)
My thoughts: This is the very first sentence in Henry Thoreau 's essay Civil Disobedience. His claim that government is best when it governs the least is explained though out the first part of his essay. By this claim he means that by a government acting less by laws and more by moral and conscience judgment it would lead to a better nation. He claims that IF people ,citizens of the United States, started acting on our conscience (the one thing that we as men are born with) the nation as a whole would know right from wrong before even a law is put in place.
• "This American government, --- what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will. It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves; and, if ever they should use it in earnest as a real one against each other, it will split." (Page one; Section one)
My thoughts: Here Mr. Thoreau states what he feels represent government in his day. He speaks of government as a sort of antique weapon against the fears and injustices of the United States. Its there, its looks special and official, but when faced with actual problems it doesn 't live up to its definition. He also presents the claim that government is slowly loosing its power over the people. The people do not follow its every move but are bending their own paths to get to their own definition of the United States.
• "Some are petitioning the State to dissolve the Union, to disregard the requisitions of the
6 claims Henry David Thoreau made in his essay: • "I heartily accept the motto,__ 'That government is best which governs least; ' and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically." (Page one; Section one)
My thoughts: This is the very first sentence in Henry Thoreau 's essay Civil Disobedience. His claim that government is best when it governs the least is explained though out the first part of his essay. By this claim he means that by a government acting less by laws and more by moral and conscience judgment it would lead to a better nation. He claims that IF people ,citizens of the United States, started acting on our conscience (the one thing that we as men are born with) the nation as a whole would know right from wrong before even a law is put in place.
• "This American government, --- what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will. It is a sort of wooden gun to the people themselves; and, if ever they should use it in earnest as a real one against each other, it will split." (Page one; Section one)
My thoughts: Here Mr. Thoreau states what he feels represent government in his day. He speaks of government as a sort of antique weapon against the fears and injustices of the United States. Its there, its looks special and official, but when faced with actual problems it doesn 't live up to its definition. He also presents the claim that government is slowly loosing its power over the people. The people do not follow its every move but are bending their own paths to get to their own definition of the United States.
• "Some are petitioning the State to dissolve the Union, to disregard the requisitions of the