On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
“On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” is an essay by American writer Henry David Thoreau that explores the relationship between the individual and the government, as well as the circumstances under which a person has the right to refuse to obey unjust laws or policies.
About This Ebook
In this essay, Thoreau recounts his personal experience of refusing to pay the poll tax due to his opposition to slavery and the Mexican-American War, which led to his imprisonment. He argues that when the government acts immorally, individuals have a responsibility to resist through nonviolent means, known as “civil disobedience.” This act is not only a protest against injustice but also a way to uphold one’s conscience and personal dignity. Thoreau’s ideas have had a profound influence on subsequent generations, inspiring many figures who sought social justice, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.