Henry David Thoreau's The Civil Disobedience
The civil disobedience
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was a philosopher and writer best known for his attacks on American social institution and his respect for nature and simple living. He was so much influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was opposed to the practice of slavery in some of the territories involved. It is said that "a night in the jail is what prompted Thoreau to write the civil disobedience. In this essay he shows his complete refusal for the slavery life after the war.
The theme :The right of resistance
Thoreau affirms the absolute right of individuals to withdraw their support from a government whose policies …show more content…
In the beginning he says that the best government is the one that does not have over control upon the nation He never trusts the government because it does whatever it wants and it is full of corruption and the bad treatment for the nation. He mentions the Mexican war that brought slavery to USA by little people (elite) who controlled the country for their won good and against people in Ami. He says the government is allowing that corruption as it gives these few men the priority to rule the majority of people. Add to that, they exploit Ami economically He says that democracy is the only solution and as it has been stretched for the ideals in the past that was made by …show more content…
They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables etc. in most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense, but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones, and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs, yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizen. Others as most legislators, politicians, lawyers ministers and office holders, serve the state chiefly with their heads. And as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are likely to serve the devil. Without intending it, as God. There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit-down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do and do nothing, who even postpone the question of freedom to the question of free trade, and quietly read the prices-current along with latest advices from México after dinner and it may be fall asleep over them both. What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot today? They hesitate, but they do nothing in earnest and with effect. They will wait well disposed, for others to remedy the evil, that they may no longer have it to regret. At most, they give only a cheap vote, and a
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was a philosopher and writer best known for his attacks on American social institution and his respect for nature and simple living. He was so much influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was opposed to the practice of slavery in some of the territories involved. It is said that "a night in the jail is what prompted Thoreau to write the civil disobedience. In this essay he shows his complete refusal for the slavery life after the war.
The theme :The right of resistance
Thoreau affirms the absolute right of individuals to withdraw their support from a government whose policies …show more content…
In the beginning he says that the best government is the one that does not have over control upon the nation He never trusts the government because it does whatever it wants and it is full of corruption and the bad treatment for the nation. He mentions the Mexican war that brought slavery to USA by little people (elite) who controlled the country for their won good and against people in Ami. He says the government is allowing that corruption as it gives these few men the priority to rule the majority of people. Add to that, they exploit Ami economically He says that democracy is the only solution and as it has been stretched for the ideals in the past that was made by …show more content…
They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables etc. in most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense, but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones, and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs, yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizen. Others as most legislators, politicians, lawyers ministers and office holders, serve the state chiefly with their heads. And as they rarely make any moral distinctions, they are likely to serve the devil. Without intending it, as God. There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit-down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do and do nothing, who even postpone the question of freedom to the question of free trade, and quietly read the prices-current along with latest advices from México after dinner and it may be fall asleep over them both. What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot today? They hesitate, but they do nothing in earnest and with effect. They will wait well disposed, for others to remedy the evil, that they may no longer have it to regret. At most, they give only a cheap vote, and a