Walden And Civil Disobedience

Thoreau wrote Civil Disobedience in 1849. It argues the superiority of the individual conscience over acquiescence to government. Thoreau was inspired to write in response to slavery and the Mexican-American war. He believed that people could not be made agents of injustice if they were governed by their own consciences.

'Walden And On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience'' is written by Sir Henry David Thoreau. The main idea of this book by Henry David Thoreau is to find the meaning of life. The author set out to think about himself, life, and the place of man in the universe. In this book, Thoreau made the case that if the government forces people to uphold injustice by adhering to "unjust laws," they should "break the law," even if doing so results in jail time. In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau's central thesis is that there is a law that transcends civil law that everyone must abide by. The government and human law are subordinate. The person must behave in accordance with his conscience and, if necessary, reject human law when the two conflict. To read this premium collection of law and to discuss the meaning of life, readers should read this book!

Selections from one of the great classics of literature--now part of the Shambhala Pocket Library. In July 1845, Henry David Thoreau built a small cottage in the woods near Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts, and began to write Walden, a chronicle of his communion with nature. Since its first publication in 1854, the work has become a classic, beloved for its message of living simply and in harmony with nature. This abridged edition of Walden features exquisite wood engravings by Michael McCurdy and a foreword by noted author and environmentalist Terry Tempest Williams, who reflects upon Thoreau’s message that as we explore our world and ourselves, we draw closer to the truth of our connectedness. This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series. The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.

Henry David Thoreau's vision of personal freedom is indelibly etched on the American consciousness. 'We need the tonic of wildness,' Thoreau wrote in Walden, and by turning his back on town amenities to build a house on Walden Pond in 1845, he helped shape our notions of the individual, subsistence, and a moral relation to nature. Raising white beans and potatoes that he sold to his Concord neighbors, he stayed for two years; his book records both the philosophy he developed while living alone and the facts of his everyday life. Included here with the complete text of Walden are selections from Thoreau's first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers; 'A Plea for Captain John Brown,' his eloquent defense of the American abolitionist's rebellion at Harper's Ferry, and such masterpieces as his famous essay 'Civil Disobedience,' in which he describes a night spent in prison for refusing to pay a poll tax to a government that condoned slavery.

Henry David Thoreau's Walden is a philosophical treatise that documents the author's experiences living alone in the woods for two years, two months, and two days. Through his observations of nature, human society, and his own self, Thoreau explores themes of individualism, self-reliance, and the importance of simplicity. In Walden, Thoreau argues that people should simplify their lives and focus on the essentials. He believes that living in harmony with nature and minimizing one's material possessions can lead to a more fulfilling life. Thoreau also critiques societal norms and institutions, such as the government and the education system, which he believes stifle creativity and individual thought. Thoreau's writing style in Walden is poetic and reflective, often blurring the line between fact and fiction. He uses his experiences in the woods as a lens through which to examine deeper philosophical questions, such as the meaning of life and the role of the individual in society. In On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau argues that individuals have a moral obligation to resist unjust laws and government actions through nonviolent means. Thoreau's ideas about civil disobedience were influential in the movements for civil rights and social justice in the 20th century. Thoreau believes that individuals should not blindly obey the law, but instead use their own judgement to determine what is right and wrong. He argues that a person's conscience should take precedence over the law, and that disobedience can be a powerful tool for effecting change. Thoreau's essay is particularly critical of the United States government and its actions, including the Mexican-American War and the institution of slavery. He argues that individuals have a duty to resist these injustices, even if it means breaking the law. Despite his advocacy for civil disobedience, Thoreau emphasizes the importance of nonviolence. He argues that violence only begets more violence, and that peaceful resistance can be more effective in creating lasting change. On the Duty of Civil Disobedience is a powerful statement about the importance of individual conscience and the need to resist injustice. Thoreau's ideas about civil disobedience continue to inspire activists and advocates for social justice today.

Henri David Thoreau was an American writer, philosopher, publicist, naturalist, and poet. He prominently represented American transcendentalism throughout the mid-1800s. Thoreau’s love and observations of nature played a significant role in his writings, often forming the basis for critiques on modern society. As a naturalist, he advocated for the conservation of nature. Thoreau encouraged individual, passive, non-violent as a means of resistance to public evils. He personally supported the abolitionist movement and, as much as possible, took an active interest in the fate of fugitive slaves who were sought by the police. His essay "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" (1849) influenced Leo Tolstoy, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. Thoreau’s key ideas and observations are contained in these collected works.