Civil Disobedience And Thoreau's Analysis

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“But so long as there is yet life in these our bones, we will never comply with your arbitrary laws” (Gandhi). This statement from Mohandas K. Gandhi’s “from On Civil Disobedience,” is stating his belief that civil disobedience does not have to be a violent act, but a peaceful and public protest. In many ways Gandhi is similar to Henry David Thoreau, who wrote “from Civil Disobedience,” and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who wrote “from Letter from Birmingham City Jail.” Thoreau argues that people should go against governmental laws that threaten personal principles. Gandhi agrees by explaining that he and his followers will not obey the laws that keep them suppressed. King also provides input when he describes that he will not praise the police …show more content…
Thoreau himself writes, “It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate.” Thoreau’s point is that “it,” which is referring to the government is not the reason that America is prospering. The individual people have produced the current society. The individual people’s views and actions are much more important than the government. In his letter, King maintains that “We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.” In making this comment, King urges people to make their opinions known publically. Individual input is the only way that freedom will be ensured. People holding back their voices will only cause setbacks because the individual is so much more significant than the government. Gandhi agrees when he states, “Whatever you do in other matters, you will have to ask out opinion about the laws that concern us.” In other words, Gandhi believes that individuals have a bigger say in what laws they personally follow than the government. This is because some laws are unfair and unjust. It is obvious that all three authors truly believe that the individual is more important and significant than the government when morality and success is
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