The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual. Civil Disobedience By Henry David Thoreau 1849 I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best What sort of life were that to live? But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. As for adopting the ways which the State has provided for remedying the evil, I know not of such ways. I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectually. Thus, under the name of Order and Civil Government, we are all made at last to pay homage to and support our own meanness. It may be in a great strait, and not know what to do: I cannot help that. What is the price-current of an honest man and patriot today? Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. This is hard. One would think, that a deliberate and practical denial of its authority was the only offence never contemplated by government; else, why has it not assigned its definite, its suitable and proportionate penalty? Free Online Library: Thoreau, Henry David - Walden & on the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau ON THE DUTY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE - best known authors and titles are available on the Free Online Library. We love eloquence for its own sake, and not for any truth which it may utter, or any heroism it may inspire. Is there any enjoyment in it, if his opinion is that he is aggrieved? Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? They are wont to forget that the world is not governed by policy and expediency. Why does it always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels? I do not hear of men being forced to live this way or that by masses of men. There will never be a really free and enlightened State, until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly. Why has every man a conscience, then? If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. I wondered that it should have concluded at length that this was the best use it could put me to, and had never thought to avail itself of my services in some way. His words are wisdom to those legislators who contemplate no essential reform in the existing government; but for thinkers, and those who legislate for all time, he never once glances at the subject. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation. We are accustomed to say, that the mass of men are unprepared; but improvement is slow, because the few are not materially wiser or better than the many. It is for no particular item in the tax-bill that I refuse to pay it. What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. They hesitate, and they regret, and sometimes they petition; but they do nothing in earnest and with effect. The only obligation which I have a right to assume, is to do at any time what I think right. But he that would save his life, in such a case, shall lose it. For my own part, I should not like to think that I ever rely on the protection of the State. Walden and on the Duty of Civil Disobedience It is not armed with superior wit or honesty, but with superior physical strength. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. $1.99. The first edition of the novel was published in 1849, and was written by Henry David Thoreau. At most, they give only a cheap vote, and a feeble countenance and Godspeed, to the right, as it goes by them. If they pay the tax from a mistaken interest in the individual taxed, to save his property or prevent his going to jail, it is because they have not considered wisely how far they let their private feelings interfere with the public good. 1849 Walden. Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage. There are nine hundred and ninety-nine patrons of virtue to one virtuous man; but it is easier to deal with the real possessor of a thing than with the temporary guardian of it. It must help itself; do as I do. Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. I do not wish to split hairs, to make fine distinctions, or set myself up as better than my neighbors. WALDEN, and ON THE DUTY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE By Henry David Thoreau Contents WALDEN Economy Where I Lived, and What I Lived For Reading Sounds Solitude Visitors The Bean-Field The Village The Ponds Baker Farm Higher Laws Brute Neighbors House-Warming Former Inhabitants and Winter Visitors Winter Animals Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience Henry David Thoreau. 's Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience for your … If the tax-gatherer, or any other public officer, asks me, as one has done, "But what shall I do?" He occupied one window, and I the other; and I saw, that, if one stayed there long, his principal business would be to look out the window. "We must affect our country as our parents, And if at any time we alienate Out love of industry from doing it honor, We must respect effects and teach the soul Matter of conscience and religion, And not desire of rule or benefit.". A common and natural result of an undue respect for the law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, aye, against their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and produces a palpitation of the heart. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. Still his quality is not wisdom, but prudence. This, then, is my position at present. The opportunities of living are diminished in proportion as what are called the "means" are increased. I have never declined paying the highway tax, because I am as desirous of being a good neighbor as I am of being a bad subject; and, as for supporting schools, I am doing my part to educate my fellow-countrymen now. The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it. View All Available Formats & Editions. You do not put your head into the fire. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. Probably this is the only house in the town where verses are composed, which are afterward printed in a circular form, but not published. I am not the son of the engineer. I have other affairs to attend to. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Walden and on the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry Thoreau (1942, Mass Market) at the … The main characters of this classics, philosophy story are , . Walden, and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience – Henry David Thoreau. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it. But just in proportion as I regard this as not wholly a brute force, but partly a human force, and consider that I have relations to those millions as to so many millions of men, and not of mere brute or inanimate things, I see that appeal is possible, first and instantaneously, from them to the Maker of them, and, secondly, from them to themselves. If a man who has no property refuses but once to earn nine shillings for the State, he is put in prison for a period unlimited by any law that I know, and determined only by the discretion of those who placed him there; but if he should steal ninety times nine shillings from the State, he is soon permitted to go at large again.
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