On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

by Henry David Thoreau

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 prepared

for 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. Continue reading