On the duty of Ci

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1/48

The Project Gutenberg EBook of On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

by Henry David Thoreau

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Title: On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

Author: Henry David Thoreau

Release Date: 12 June 2004 [EBook #71]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, ON THE DUTY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE***

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On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

by Henry David Thoreau

[1849, original title: Resistance to Civil Goverment]

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to

see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which

also I believe"That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are preparedfor it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an

expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many andweighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government. The

standing army is only an arm of the standing government. The government itself, which is only

the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused andperverted before the people can act through it. Witness the present Mexican war, the work of

comparatively a few individuals using the standing government as their tool; for in the outset, the

people would not have consented to this measure.


2/48

This American governmentwhat 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. It is a sort ofwooden gun to the people themselves. But it is not the less necessary for this; for the people must

have some complicated machinery or other, and hear its din, to satisfy that idea of government

which they have. Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed upon, evenimpose on themselves, for their own advantage. It is excellent, we must all allow. Yet this

government never of itself furthered any enterprise, but by the alacrity with which it got out of its

way. It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate. Thecharacter inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would

have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. For government

is an expedient, by which men would fain succeed in letting one another alone; and, as has been

said, when it is most expedient, the governed are most let alone by it. Trade and commerce, ifthey were not made of india-rubber, would never manage to bounce over obstacles which

legislators are continually putting in their way; and if one were to judge these men wholly by the

effects of their actions and not partly by their intentions, they would deserve to be classed and

punished with those mischievious persons who put obstructions on the railroads.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 obtainingit.

After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority

are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule is not because they are most likely to be in

the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the

strongest. But a government in which the majority rule in all cases can not be based on justice,even as far as men understand it. Can there not be a government in which the majorities do not

virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?in which majorities decide only thosequestions to which the rule of expediency is applicable? Must the citizen ever for a moment, orin the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience

then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a

respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assumeis to do at any time what I think right. It is truly enough said that a corporation has no

conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience. Law

never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposedare daily made the agents on injustice. A common and natural result of an undue respect for the

law is, that you may see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys,

and all, marching in admirable order over hill and dale to the wars, against their wills, ay, against

their common sense and consciences, which makes it very steep marching indeed, and producesa palpitation of the heart. They have no doubt that it is a damnable business in which they are

concerned; they are all peaceably inclined. Now, what are they? Men at all? or small movable

forts and magazines, at the service of some unscrupulous man in power? Visit the Navy Yard,and behold a marine, such a man as an American government can make, or such as it can make a

man with its black artsa mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and

standing, and already, as one may say, buried under arms with funeral accompaniment, though itmay be,


3/48

"Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,

As his corse to the rampart we hurried;

Not a soldier discharged his farewell shotO'er the grave where our hero was buried."

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, etc. In most

cases there is no free exercise whatever of the

judgement or of the moral sense; but they putthemselves 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 menof 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 goodcitizens. Othersas most legislators,

politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-

holdersserve the state chiefly with theirheads; and, as they rarely make any moral

distinctions, they are as likely to serve the devil,

without intending it, as God. A very fewas

heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the greatsense, and menserve the state with their

consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for

the most part; and they are commonly treated as

enemies by it. A wise man will only be usefulas a man, and will not submit to be "clay," and

"stop a hole to keep the wind away," but leavethat office to his dust at least:

"I am

too high

born tobe

properti

ed,

To be asecond

at

control,Or

useful

serving-man and


4/48

instrume

nt

To anysovereig

n state

throughout the

world."

He who

giveshimself

entirely

to his

fellowmen

appears

to themuseless

and

selfish;but he

who

gives

himselfpartially

to them

in

pronounced a

benefactor and

philanth

ropist.

Howdoes it

become

a man to

behavetoward

the

American

governm

enttoday? I


5/48

answer,

that he

cannotwithout

disgrace

beassociat

ed with

it. Icannot

for an

instant

recognize that

political

organiza

tion asmy

government

which is

the

slave'sgovernm

ent also.

All men

recogniz

e theright of

revolution; that

is, the

right torefuse

allegian

ce to,

and toresist,

thegovernment,

when its

tyrannyor its

inefficie

ncy are


6/48


7/48

do

without

them.All

machine

s havetheir

friction;

andpossibly

this does

enough

good tocounter-

balance

the evil.

At anyrate, it is

a greatevil to

make a

stirabout it.

But

when

thefriction

comes to

have itsmachine

, and

oppression and

robbery

are

organized, I say,

let us

not havesuch a

machine

anylonger.

In other

words,

when a


8/48


9/48

that fact

that the

countryso

overrun

is notour own,

but ours

is theinvading

army.

Paley, a

common

authority with

many on

moralquestion

s, in his

chapteron the

"Duty of

Submiss

ion toCivil

Govern

ment,"

resolvesall civil

obligation into

expedie

ncy; andhe

proceeds

to say

that "solong as

theinterestof the

whole

societyrequires

it, that

is, so


10/48

long as

the

established

governm

entcannot

be

resistedor

changed

without

publicinconve

nience,

it is the

will of God . . .

that theestablish

ed

government be

obeyed

and

nolonger.

This

principlebeing

admitted

, thejustice

of every

particula

r case ofresistanc

e is

reducedto a

computa

tion of the

quantity

of the

danger


11/48

and

grievanc

e on theone side,

and of

theprobabil

ity and

expenseof

redressi

ng it on

theother."

Of this,

he says,

everyman

shalljudge

for

himself.But

Paley

appears

never tohave

contemp

latedthose

cases to

whichthe rule

of

expedie

ncy doesnot

apply, in

which apeople,

as well

as anindividu

al, must

do

justice,


12/48

cost

what it

may. If Ihave

unjustly

wresteda plank

from a

drowning man, I

must

restore it

to himthough I

drown

myself.

This,accordin

g toPaley,

would

beinconve

nient.

But he

thatwould

save his

life, insuch a

case,

shalllose it.

This

people

mustcease to

hold

slaves,and to

make

war onMexico,

though it

cost

them


13/48

their

existenc

e as apeople.

In their

practice,

nationsagree

with

Paley;but does

anyone

think

thatMassach

usetts

doesexactly

what is

right atthe

present

crisis?

"A

a cTo hav

and her

Practic

opponeMassac

hundred

at the thousan

farmers

interest

agriculthumani

prepare

slave what it

far-off

who, newith, a

those f

whom


14/48

harmle

to say,

are improv

the few

wiser oIt is n

many s

as that goodne

will le

There a

in opinand to

effect d

to the

themseWashin

down wpockets

know n

nothingthe que

questio

quietly

along wfrom M

and, it m

them bcurrent

patriot

and sometim

they do

with e

well dremedy

no long

most, cheap

counten

the righThere

ninety-

to one

easier


15/48

possess

the tem

All vot

like chewith a

a play

wrong,and

accomp

of the cast my

think

vitally

right swilling

majorit

therefoof exp

for the

for it. Imen fe

should

will no

mercy to prev

of the

little v

massesmajorit

for the will b

indiffer

becauseslavery

their vo

the onl

can haslavery

freedom

I hear

held elsewh

a ca

Presideof edit


16/48

politici

think,

indepenrespect

they m

not havwisdom

neverth

count uvotes?

individ

do not

But nrespect

has imm

his pos

his couhas mo

him. Hof the c

as the o

proving

availabthe dem

no mo

any unphireling

been bo

is a masays, h

which

hand tare at f

been re

many

square country

not A

inducemhere?

dwindl

one wthe dev

of gr

manife

cheerfu


17/48

first an

coming

see thagood re

has law

garb, tosupport

orphan

short, vthe a

Insuran

has pr

decentl

It is nmatter

himself

any, evwrong;

have ot

him; buto wash

he give

not to

supportother

contem

see, at

pursue another

must gmay

contem

gross tolerate

of my

should

me outinsurre

to marcwould men h

their

indirectmoney,

The so

refuses


18/48

war by

refuse

governwar; is

whose

he disnaught;

peniten

hired onsinned,

that it

momen

name Govern

at last

support

After tcomes

from imwere, u

unnece

we hav

The

prevalemost d

sustain

to wh

patriotithe nob

incur. Tdisappr

and

governmallegian

undoub

conscie

so freqobstacl

petitiondissolvdisrega

the Pre

not disthe uni

and the

pay th


19/48

treasury

same re

the StaAnd h

reasons

from which

from re

How ca

entertaiand en

enjoym

is that

are chedollar b

do no

knowinwith s

cheated

petitionyour

effectu

obtain

see to cheated

princip

the pe

changeit is ess

and dowith an

not on

churchay, it

separat

him fro

Unjust

contentwe end

and ob

succeedtransgr

general

governmthey ou


20/48

have p

to alter

if theyremedy

the evi

the govremedy

It mak

not moprovide

it not

minorit

resist bdoes i

citizen

and do

have talways

excommand L

Washin

rebels?

One w

deliberof its a

offense

by its

has it nits suit

penaltypropert

earn n

State, hperiod

that I k

only by

who pushould

shillingsoon peagain.

If the i

necessa

machingo, let


21/48

wear

machin

injusticpulley,

exclusi

perhapswhethe

be wors

is of require

injustic

say, br

life bestop the

to do is

I do n

wrong wAs for

the St

remedynot of

too mu

life wil

affairs into thi

make th

in, but

or badeveryth

somethcannot

necessa

doing snot m

petition

the Leg

it is theif they

petitionthen? Bhas pro

Constit

may sstubbor

but it

utmost


22/48

conside

that can

it. So better,

which c

I do no

those Aboliti

effectu

supportpropert

governm

and n

constitubefore

prevail

that it God o

waiting

Moreovright

constitu

already

I me

governmreprese

governmto face,in th

gathere

in whiam nec

then

Recognsimples

and, in

affairs,

mode othis he

little s

love foMy civ

gathere

have toafter a


23/48

with pa

and

chosengovernm

ever kn

does agovernm

he is

whetheneighbo

respect

well-di

maniacpeace,

over th

neighbo

and moor spee

his actthat if

hundre

could men

HONE

Massac

hold slwithdra

partner

in the would

slavery

mattersbeginni

what is

forever

talk abour m

many s

its servmy es

State's

devote settlem

human

Chamb

threaten


24/48

Carolin

prisone

that Stato foist

her sist

she canof inh

ground

the Lwholly

the foll

Under

impriso

place fprison.

today,

Massacfor h

despon

prisonslocked

own ac

put the

principfugitive

Mexica

and the

the wrofind the

more ground

those w

but aghouse

which

with ho

their inthere,

longer State, tas an e

they d

much error,

eloquen

can com


25/48

experie

person.

not a sbut you

minorit

conformnot eve

it is irr

by its alternat

men in

and sla

hesitatethousan

their ta

would

bloody be to pa

State toshed in

in fact

peaceabsuch is

gathere

officer,

done, "my ans

wish to

your ofhas refu

officer

office, accomp

suppos

there n

when wounde

wound

and immhe ble

death. I

now.

I havimpriso

rather t

goods


26/48

serve

because

purest rare m

corrupt

not spaccumu

such

comparand a

appear

if they

by spehands.

lived w

of mo

would hhim. Bu

make compar

to the i

him speakin

less vir

betwee

objectshim; it

virtue t

rest mawould

answer

questiohard bu

to spen

ground

his feeliving

proport

the "mThe be

for his

is to ethose

entertai

Christ

Herodia


27/48

conditi

tribute-

one toopocket

which h

on it, acurrent

you are

gladly eCaesar'

him ba

when h

therefois Caes

things

leaving

before for they

When

freest perceiv

may sa

and

questiothe pu

long a

matter

spare existing

dread their pr

disobed

own pathink t

protecti

I deny

State wbill, it

waste aharass without

makes

to livesame

outward

be w


28/48

accumu

would

You msomew

small c

You muand d

always

for a staffairs.

in Turk

in all r

of the Confuc

govern

reason,

are substate is

principand ho

shame.

protectibe exte

distant

my lib

until Ibuildin

by pea

afford Massac

to my

costs mincur

disobed

it woul

as if I wcase.

Some y

me in and comcertain

support

preachibut nev

said, "o

jail." I


29/48

unfortu

saw fit

why thbe taxe

and n

schoolmthe Sta

support

subscrithe lyce

its tax b

to back

the Chrequest

condesc

such s

writingthese p

Thorearegarde

incorpo

have noto the t

it. The

learned

be regathat chu

like d

thoughadhere

presum

knownshould

detail

which

but I dfind suc

I have p

years. once onnight;

conside

stone, tthe doo

foot thi

which


30/48

could

with th

institutif I wer

and bo

wonderconclu

was the

me to, to avai

in som

there w

betweetownsm

more d

break

could gwas. I

feel coseemed

and mo

of all mmy tax

know

behave

underbrin eve

was a

thoughtwas to

that sto

smile tothey lo

meditat

them o

hindranreally a

As they

they hmy bod

cannot

againstspite, w

that the

that it

woman


31/48

and th

friends

lost allfor it, a

Thus

intentio

man's moral,

senses.

superiowith

strengt

forced.

own fais the

has a

can fohigher

me

themsemen be

way or

What s

live? governm

"Your

why sh

give it in a gre

what toIt must

It is no

snivel respons

workin

society

the engwhen a

fall sidnot remfor the

their ow

grow ancan,

oversha

other.


32/48

accordi

and so

The nig

and inprisone

were en

eveningwhen I

said, "C

to lockdispers

sound o

into th

My introdu

as "a

clever was lo

where

how hthere.

whitew

and thi

whitestfurnish

neatest

natural

where brough

had tolmy tur

presum

honest the wo

was. "

accuse

but I neI coul

probablwhen dpipe th

burnt.

of beinbeen th

waiting

on, and


33/48

much lo

domest

since hnothing

was we

He occ

I the oone st

princip

look osoon r

were le

where

broken had bee

the hi

occupafound

was a

which beyond

Probab

house

verses are af

circular

publish

a long had b

attemptavenge

singing

I pump

as dryshould

but at

which

me to b

It was lcountry

expecte

there foto me

the tow

not the


34/48

village

window

inside see my

light of

our ConRhine s

knights

before voices

heard i

involun

auditorand sai

adjacen

wholly

experiecloser

town. II nev

institut

of its pit is a

compre

inhabit

In the m

were p

the dosquare

and hchocola

and an

called fwas gr

what b

comrad

that I slunch o

was letin a neihe wen

not be

bade mhe dou

me aga


35/48

When I

for som

paid tperceiv

had t

commowho w

emerge

and yetmy eye

the

country

mere tiyet mor

which

extent

whom as good

that thsumme

they did

do rigdistinct

prejudi

as the

are; thahumani

not eve

after anoble b

as he h

hoped,observa

and by

straight

from ttheir s

judge m

for I them a

have su

jail in t

It was our vi

debtor

acquain


36/48

looking

which

represe"How

neighbo

me, butthen at

returne

I was pgoing

get a sh

When

morninmy erra

my m

huckleb

impatieunder m

an housoon

midst o

on onetwo m

State w

This is

"My Pr

I have the highas desi

neighb

bad ssupport

doing m

fellow for no

tax bill

simply

allegianwithdra

from it

care to dollar,

man or

withtbut I a


37/48

the eff

In fact

with tfashion

make

advantausual in

If other

demand

sympatdo but

done i

rather t

greater require

from a

individpropert

to jail,

not conthey le

interfer

This, th

present

much ocase, le

by obregard men. L

only w

and to t

I thinkpeople

only ig

better i

give yoto trea

inclined

This is do as th

to suffe

a diffesometim

When m

without


38/48

without

any kin

few shipossibi

constitu

alteringand wit

your s

other myoursel

brute fo

cold a

and obstina

submit

necessi

your hjust in

this asforce,

force, a

relationto so m

and no

inanim

appeal instanta

the M

secondlthemse

head de

there isthe Ma

only m

could c

have anwith m

treat th

not arespect

and exp

and I ogood M

I shou

satisfie

are, an


39/48

God. A

this

resistinbrute o

can re

effect; like Or

nature

and bea

I do noany ma

wish to

fine dis

up asneighbo

say, e

conformland. I

conform

have reon this

the tax

I find

review the g

governm

the pe

pretext

"We

And

Out We

Matter

And no

I believ

and theof view

respect

admirabseen fr

worth l

Howev

possiblthis wo


40/48

for a lo

him.

I know

professStatesm

and nak

it. Theinvente

their w

that thegovernm

legislat

thinker

of thosof his m

reforme

almost Compa

not wis

expediereveal t

has bee

him bu

"I havenever c

arrange

thinkin

part of ability,

lies absdo here

some s

as a pri"The m

to regu

to the g

elsewhwhatev

never w

They w

stand, reveren

that po

fountai


41/48

No ma

history

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truth w

learneda nation

and fin

wordy experie

rank am

say it, t

and pralegislat

The au

cheerfu

who nehave th

and pro

monarcfor the

individ

improv

recognienlight

indepen

him acc

to all mthink it

with it,State w

prepare

but not

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42/48

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