Henry David Thoreau was a teacher turned writer who was born in 1817 and raised in Concord, Massachusetts. In 1842, he moved in with Ralph Waldo Emerson, where he lived for two years. Thoreau became Emerson’s close friend and devoted disciple. When Thoreau decided not to go back to teaching, and refused to pursue another career, he dedicated himself to testing the Transcendentalist philosophy through experience. Three ideas that Thoreau had in his life were: the government that governs least governs best, march to the beat of your own drum, and the man who has a lot isn’t really free because he becomes tied down to his possessions. They are what I will be writing about in the following paragraphs.
One of Thoreau’s ideas was that the government that governs least governs best. This concerns us today because our government basically tries to dictate everything in our lives except when we breathe. Of course I believe that the government must control certain things in order to maintain a civil country that isn’t in complete chaos. However, it is my opinion that the government tries to control too much. For example, the case Roe vs.
Wade should have nothing to do with the government, it should be a private choice. Although I do not agree with abortion, I believe that it is a woman’s personal choice. The government should have nothing to do with this issue. Another idea that Thoreau had was that you should march to the beat of your own drum. I believe that this statement is relevant today because most people can do, or be, whatever they want without regard to race, religion, or sex.
The Essay on Civil Disobedience Government Thoreau Unjust
Thoreau's Civil Disobedience espouses the need to prioritize one's conscience over the dictates of laws. It criticizes American social institutions and policies, most prominently slavery and the Mexican-American War. Thoreau begins his essay by arguing that government rarely proves itself useful and that it derives its power from the majority because they are the strongest group, not because they ...
Most people can follow their own lifestyle and make their own dreams, or goals, while still living in harmony with the rest of society. A third idea that Thoreau had was that the man who has a lot, is never really free because he becomes tied down to his possessions. This idea pertains to the world today because people are always trying to get more money and power. No matter how much money or power one person has, it never seems to be enough. Although there is nothing wrong with wanting money and power, letting that want run your life can cause you to have no life at all.
Many people have lost love, family, and happiness trying to gain riches and power. Today’s society is too materialistic, and has lost sight of the true values of life. Many people do not realize, until it’s too late, that money and power can not buy you happiness. Even though Thoreau wrote about these ideas in the 1800’s, they are obviously timeless because they can still be related to the world today.
Many would probably say that he was a man born before his time, but I just believe that there are certain things about the world haven’t, and never will, change. In conclusion, I would just like to say that Henry David Thoreau was a very intelligent man, who had many great ideas.
