Civil Disobedience

by

Henry David Thoreau

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The American Government Character Analysis

The American Government is the chief antagonist of Thoreau and the American people. It is the government’s actions that Thoreau is most concerned with in the essay—in fact, they’re the reason he pens the essay in the first place. The government’s actions, primarily its participation in the Mexican-American war and in slavery, are signs of its corruption. To Thoreau, the government is a self-serving body that claims to work for the good of the American people, when in reality it works for the benefit of a powerful few. What’s more, it thwarts the law and ethics of Christianity and God, upholds immorality, and gives its citizens little to no respect. For these reason, Thoreau entreats his audience to give the government little to no respect in return. He incites the American People to practice civil disobedience by refusing to pay taxes as a way of limiiting the government’s power. Because Thoreau fears that the government has become too powerful, he relies on the American people to check the state. To Thoreau, a government with immoral tendencies cannot be deserving of the American people’s trust or taxes. Thus, Thoreau sees the American people and the government as locked in a hostile tension.

The American Government Quotes in Civil Disobedience

The Civil Disobedience quotes below are all either spoken by The American Government or refer to The American Government. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
American People vs. The American Government Theme Icon
).
Civil Disobedience Quotes

This American government, —what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 275
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 276
Explanation and Analysis:

The mass of men serve the State thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, &c. 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 citizens.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government
Page Number: 277
Explanation and Analysis:

It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 281-282
Explanation and Analysis:

Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? 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.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 297
Explanation and Analysis:
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The American Government Quotes in Civil Disobedience

The Civil Disobedience quotes below are all either spoken by The American Government or refer to The American Government. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
American People vs. The American Government Theme Icon
).
Civil Disobedience Quotes

This American government, —what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity? It has not the vitality and force of a single living man; for a single man can bend it to his will.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 275
Explanation and Analysis:

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.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 276
Explanation and Analysis:

The mass of men serve the State thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, &c. 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 citizens.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government
Page Number: 277
Explanation and Analysis:

It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 281-282
Explanation and Analysis:

Is a democracy, such as we know it, the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man? 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.

Related Characters: Henry David Thoreau (speaker), The American Government, The American People
Page Number: 297
Explanation and Analysis: