On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

by Henry David Thoreau

1849, original title: Resistance to Civil Government

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...