There are a couple of thoughts from Thoreau 's words; first, they are fascinated by the way he perceived how the administration was ruled. From his point of view, he saw himself as the villain and he was administered by the force of men and it was not in the slightest degree controlled in a common manner. Additionally, Thoreau was against the government, and he needed individuals to perceive how the legislature is brimming with force, but not in a persuasive manner. …”They who have been bred in the school of politics fail now and always to face the facts. Their measures are half measures and make-shifts, merely. They put off the day of settlement indefinitely, and meanwhile, the debt accumulates.” Resistance to Civil Government is Henry David …show more content…
His reasoning focuses on that the state ought to be controlled less by the standards of a few chosen ones that have discovered themselves at the top spots and all the more as the normal man, irrelevant in himself, however the veritable spine of the state would have it run. “But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.” Additionally, Thoreau 's words are a mindset about what goes ahead in the legislature and men who tail it and the way it runs the nation. He as an American feels that it is man that he is stating his inclination to, as they are the ones making the issues. Thoreau saw the inclination that the legislature was utilizing its potential as a part of a forceful way that appeared to be extremely controlling. “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 an 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 citizens. Others, as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders, serve the state chiefly with their heads; and, as they rarely make any more distinctions, they are as likely to serve the devil, without intending it, as
He uses this system as another way to proclaim his opinions. He wants people to be conscientious about the laws and systems taking place around them every day. He wants people to ponder on the idea that “unjust laws exist: shall [they] be content to obey them, or shall [they] transgress them at once?”(6). Thoreau goes on to answer this question by saying most people will not stand up for injustice until someone else makes a stand first. The consequences of standing up to the government frightened the American people, leading to a minimal amount of change to take place in this nation.
In contrast, Thoreau begins his essay by criticizing the government system, and he believed that government is ineffective because of the stringent and barbarous laws. And he indicates his point when
Thoreau starts by using parallel structure in the beginning of his essay. For instance, Thoreau starts by writing “I heartily accept the motto,-“That government is best which governs least;”and then clarifies that his true belief is “That government is best which governs not at all.” (Thoreau 224). Thoreau states that government is nothing but an imaginary idea that people choose to live by, yet this imaginary thing we call government is easy to manipulate, that one person can easily bid the government to do their will. While we believe that government is made to serve the people in which it governs, it is mainly used as a source to gain power.
Thoreau also compares the government to a “wooden gun.” By using this comparison, Thoreau is basically saying that the government can show off, but the moment they are put under too much pressure, it will simply break apart, much like a wooden gun would break apart if it were actually ever
(389) Immediately, any American citizen is directly touched by this statement, and it gives a sense of truth and realization. Thoreau is aiming to challenge the status quo; the understanding that the government is responsible for any success of the country. For several people, he actually seemed to draw a sense of anger and resentment toward the government, which was exactly his goal. Emotional appeal is a major factor in making Civil Disobedience a timeless literary
Thoreau starts his essay by condemning his fellow countrymen’s actions, or rather, inaction. They and Thoreau share similar moral beliefs, but they refuse to take any action towards them. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or
Thoreau believes that while his neighbors and himself are creating movement in opposite directions, they are drawing attention to an issue. This is evident in paragraph 16 where Thoreau states, “Action from principle,—the perception and the performance of right,—changes things and relations; it is essentially revolutionary, and does not consist wholly with anything which was. It not only divides states
An effective government system protects the rights of its people and keeps its citizens safe from harm. The purpose of the government is to protect its citizens by securing the safety of them, and by providing for citizen 's needs. While other concerns, such as the economy and a less intrusive government may be present, a government 's duty is to provide for and protect its citizens. Without people 's concerns for how their needs will be provided or how they will be protected from a threat, the citizens will be able to live with a sense of security.
Throughout history there have been many political changes that are either supported, or not, by citizens. In the given passage from, "Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, a perspective of disagreeing with the government ways, is provided. Thoreau explains how a government should be in comparison to how it really is by utilizing his words to set the tone and mode, imagery to achieve his audience's understanding, and diction to make his writing scholarly. Although tone and mode are not directly stated, you can infer that Thoreau meant for his writing to be taken as serious and powerful. His implementation of words such as, "inexpedient," "execute," " integrity," and "command," makes one think about their lawful rights and reflect on what rights are supported or
His appeal to emotion was powerful to the readers, attempting to persuade them about how the government was unfair. A great example of this is when Thoreau mentions the issue of slavery in support for his argument. “I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave’s government also” (1018). Here Thoreau is saying how he can’t be ruled by the same government that also allows the cruelty of other human beings.
Thoreau’s view on the society as he states, “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” go to show that it was harder to have individuality and to refuse the governments ways. Now-a-days the practice of civil disobedience has allowed citizens to practice non-conformity with the protection of amendments but back then while the nation was just growing they had to have more power and that, “so long as the interest of the whole society requires it, that is, so long as the established government cannot be resisted or changed without public inconveniency, it is the will of God that the established government be obeyed, and no longer" as quoted by Paley. The society was most likely pushed towards acceptance of the government and weren’t as self-reliant to make change in their
The key to deconstructing Thoreau's argument is to understand his hierarchy of government and the individual. Thoreau's ideal communion between the individual and the state is manifest by the individual as a "higher and independent power". This relationship is entertained in Civil Disobedience in the analysis of Thoreau's 1846 imprisonment, in which Thoreau demonstrated freedom as an internal and subjective
Mr. Thoreau argues that people should not allow any government to control or atrophy their thoughts or beliefs. Mr. Thoreau was an also remained a devoted abolitionist and has written
Individuals lay the foundation of America. The Founding Fathers of this unique nation broke their allegiance with Great Britain to create an improved governing body. They desired an individual-centered authority as opposed to Britain’s monarchy, which ruled with tyranny. These Founding Fathers experienced a neglectful democratic monarchy that cared little about the ethical treatment of its people. The domineering actions of Britain challenged these historic individuals to form a new cultural identity.
This citation shows that Thoreau did not want to follow the laws. Thoreau also believed in living life by following moral law and not law stated in the constitution. Thoreau also believed that the government does best if it does not rule over the people. In the essay Civil Disobedience it says “That government is best which governs least”. This shows what Thoreau felt the government should not do.