Thoreau's Resistance To Civil Government

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Thoreau’s experience inspired him to write an authoritative lecture on the relations of the everyday individual to the State. It was published in 1849 as "Resistance to Civil Government," but it is currently known as "Civil Disobedience." Civil Disobedience seems to be more of a call for improving rather than abolishing the government. Thoreau preaches, “I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government,” (Civil Disobedience, Thoreau). He believes the direction of this improvement points toward anarchism. Another one of his widely recognized opinions states, “That government is best which governs not all,” (Thoreau, Brainyquote). Overall, this dominant essay birthed in a single jail cell has managed to influence generations
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