Henry David Thoreau was a strong believer in using your conscience. When it comes to government he believes in a motto, “that government is best which governs least;”…””that government is best which governs not at all;” and when are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.” (page 177) He believes that you should trust in your conscience and not follow along with what you are told to do. Trust in what you believe in and do what you feel is right. Thoreau says, “The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.” (pages 177-178) He makes a statement that is a very descriptive example of what he means, “Others-as most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and officeholders-serve
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You should never go against your morals even if the government makes it illegal to do so. If a law is in place that is not right then it is your duty as a citizen to go against that law. Henry paid no poll-tax for six years and was sentenced to a night in jail for this. He “did not for one moment feel confined” (page 181). He felt that he proved his point and smiled at this. “As they could not reach me, they have resolved to punish my body; just as boys, if they cannot come at some person against who they have a spite, will abuse his dog.” (pages 181-182) “For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever.” The night that he spent in jail is no regret to him but yet an accomplishment that he was recognized …show more content…
His I Have a Dream speech is widely known and many can quote lines from it. “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” King was a not the type of man to go down without a fight. But he was not the type of man to fight with violence but yet with peaceful. Hundreds of peaceful, nonviolent protest were led by him. He spent many nights in jail, but even there he could not be kept quiet. “My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure.” This was in a letter he sent from the Birmingham jail. Fight the government with violence would have never gotten them anywhere. They would just create more stereotypes out of the African American culture. The government would not listen to them if they were causing violence and would do nothing but jail and ignore them. Instead, the government became the bad guys, the violent ones. Police would beat innocent people and blast children with powerful firehoses. These caused many deaths and injuries but it only ever strengthened Martin’s cause. They did not violently fight back but took the hit and allowed the government to ruin themselves. By doing this they got the attention from millions of people, including the government. Eventually this lead to success. Equal
You should never go against your morals even if the government makes it illegal to do so. If a law is in place that is not right then it is your duty as a citizen to go against that law. Henry paid no poll-tax for six years and was sentenced to a night in jail for this. He “did not for one moment feel confined” (page 181). He felt that he proved his point and smiled at this. “As they could not reach me, they have resolved to punish my body; just as boys, if they cannot come at some person against who they have a spite, will abuse his dog.” (pages 181-182) “For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever.” The night that he spent in jail is no regret to him but yet an accomplishment that he was recognized …show more content…
His I Have a Dream speech is widely known and many can quote lines from it. “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” King was a not the type of man to go down without a fight. But he was not the type of man to fight with violence but yet with peaceful. Hundreds of peaceful, nonviolent protest were led by him. He spent many nights in jail, but even there he could not be kept quiet. “My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure.” This was in a letter he sent from the Birmingham jail. Fight the government with violence would have never gotten them anywhere. They would just create more stereotypes out of the African American culture. The government would not listen to them if they were causing violence and would do nothing but jail and ignore them. Instead, the government became the bad guys, the violent ones. Police would beat innocent people and blast children with powerful firehoses. These caused many deaths and injuries but it only ever strengthened Martin’s cause. They did not violently fight back but took the hit and allowed the government to ruin themselves. By doing this they got the attention from millions of people, including the government. Eventually this lead to success. Equal