Emerson Individualism

Thoreau's Civil Disobedience talks about politics, government and the issues concerning these areas today. "Government is best which governs least." This motto means that the government should not have complete power over the people. The people's opinion is what matters the most. Individualism is stressed throughout his writing. To stand up for what you believe in and not bend backwards for the government is necessary. He speaks of Slavery and the war in Mexico and how is must be put to a stop. The people are responsible for this happening. Many people opposed these things yet did nothing to change it. Allowing yourself to be a part of injustice makes you a part of the negativity. Paying taxes to a corrupt government makes you

In Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, he argues that when civil laws conflict with an individual's morality, the individual should follows his conscience. Thoreau like many Transcendentalists felt a less involved government was best. Thoreau wrote, "That government is best which governs not at all." Obviously, Thoreau realized that he could afford to take this open opinion on government because of the American government. But he felt that government's authority should be limited to physical matters of the country, such as infrastructure and orderliness. He felt a government that become involved in moral matters such as sobriety and slavery was a government over-stepping its boundaries. Ultimately, Thoreau and other transcendentalists felt a utopian society would be the best.

A man once said "That government is best that governs least," that man is John L. O'Sullivan who argues that government is "evil". Thoreau takes this quote as a motto and centers his work, "Civil Disobedience" around this opening quote. The quote itself is self-explanatory and the fact that Thoreau "heartily accepts" this motto, tells us that he disapproves of government and its interference in our affairs. Thoreau would like to have no government at all but as he speaks as a practical citizen, he is asking not to get rid of government entirely, but to get a better one [724]. He wants the people in government to focus on what is right instead of what the law says is "just." If there's laws that our conscience tells us, is wrong, then we should rebel against them because if we have knowledge on the issue, and don’t do anything to prevent it, then in a way we are supporting it. Thoreau says "Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence.” He persuades his readers of his ideas through classical argument. Thoreau uses logos, pathos, and repetition, as well as analogies and metaphors to clearly present his reasons on why its better to have a government that governs least or have no government at all.

Henry David Thoreau wrote Civil Disobedience, which is about him trying to persuade citizens that their obligation is to contravene and correct the unfair laws of the government. Thoreau begins Civil Disobedience with the view point “That government is best which governs least”

“Thus the State never intentionally confronts a man’s sense, intellectual or moral, but only his body, his senses. It is not armed with superior wit or honesty, but with superior physical strength… They only can force me who obey a higher law than I.” According to Thoreau the government didn’t have a strong non-violent solutions instead they will stop any problem with force and Thoreau did not see it as a fair respectful government. He realized that this government was not good and beneficial and decide to disobey and using his knowledge he suggested others to do the same. “The authority of government, even such as I am willing to submit to- for I will cheerfully obey those who know and can do better than I…”

Henry David Thoreau, born in 1817, is the author of Civil Disobedience, an essay the highlights the importance of individualism and maintaining autonomy within a society that strongly favor majority rule. In 2017, especially within the past election, this is of major significance. In his essay, Thoreau focusses on many ideas, some of the most prevalent being, standing up for what one believes is wrong, no matter the consequences, along with the idea that with the right leaders government can work.

Throughout history, people's opinion on how the government should govern has shifted back and forth. Some men think that it should be all ruling and powerful, while others think that it should have a very menial role in society. One of the men that thought it should have a menial role in society was Henry David Thoreau and he made that evident in his document called Civil Disobedience. Thoreau believed he was simply asking for a "better government" but in reality he was stirring up the thoughts of many others. Thoreau's opinions are presented in a clear, strong, powerful, convincing and intelligent manner,

Civil Disobedience In Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau discusses his feelings on the proposal that people need to openly resist the government. Thoreau explains that a government shouldn’t intrude into men’s lives, that the government is only an expedient, meaning it’s merely a means to an end. He describes the need for a government thata leaves the people of the United States alone, that “…government is best which governs least”. Thoreau supports his ideas stated in Civil Disobedience by criticizing the current (current during the time) faults in the United States government.

I have read experts from Thoreau, Resistance to Civil Government and he believes in the most limited government possible. His thoughts were accordingly similar to Kings,as well as Parks, he believed in the idea that people should not serve the government but owe themselves and their fellow men. “Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” Consequently,Thoreau served some time for refusing to pay his taxes, this way he demonstrated people to challenge society itself so they can fulfill and aim towards the objective. Till this day Thoreau has still left an impact on society,and is however, recognized up as an instance of civil disobedience.

Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience) is an essay written based on his disproval’s and arguments about mistreatment from the government. Within Henry David Thoreau essay, he points out his views on how he sees people getting treated for being different. Henry David Thoreau believed that people should fight for their rights like everyone other citizens has. Henry David Thoreau illustrates in his essay, “But a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it” . Henry David Thoreau sees and knows that the government has no justice towards the people, those who get their rights see it as

“If a person wished to know what transcendentalism was he should empty his mind of everything coming from tradition and the rest would be transcendentalism” (Boller 34). This literary period has dramatically shaped literature and religion, in America. Many writers like Henry David Thoreau and Emily Dickinson have been influence by transcendental ideas. It is astonishing how an inspiring literature movement can change so much of the world’s view and still is around today.

Henry David Thoreau, wrote an assay about “Civil Disobedience” in 1849. Thoreau a man whit strong believes about government been needed for the people, but needed to be modified. The writer states that, “government is best which governs least” the best government is the one who rules a nation by putting innocent people to risk to keep them safe. For example, the Mexican war, a war that a president set as one of his four goals throughout his presidency. Thoreau, decided to spend a night on jail instead of paying his poll taxes, taxes that till this day is hard to understand why people pay taxes everyday and at the end of the year there is more taxes taking out of citizen grand total earn. Thoreau claims, “not at once no government, but at once a better government” people need rules, laws and protection. People need government, a government that cares for each and one of them as a human being. What the government needs is less wars, better government, and reduce taxes, so citizens can make a decent living.

One of the most famous texts ever written for the sheer purpose of Transcendentalism was Emerson’s Self Reliance. In his essay, he writes about the importance of nonconformity and individualism. In Self Reliance, Emerson tells us to “trust thyself.” From only two words, one can gather the whole purpose of his essay. With nonconformity, man can defend himself against the tendency to become satisfied with life, and lose his own individuality. With “good- humored inflexibility” the self-reliant person can become someone who obeys himself. When it comes to a battle of law or a battle of morals, the self-reliant man will follow his morals and discard the law. One is not to use their logic, but use intuition. Emerson simply was striving for not the superiority of one man, but for originality and individuality of all humankind. He wanted to

Transcendentalism influenced the 19th century and emphasized on the value of the individual and intuition. It was an idea that people were at their best when they we self reliant and independent. Ralph Waldo Emerson was the movements most important figure along with his main follower Henry David Thoreau. These two people were the most influential people during this movement. Transcendentalism was all about being an individual and it still endures today in modern culture. It is particularly evident in modern music. Modern music expresses individuality and the idea of being something other than the majority.

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” was written in 1841 in New England during the Transcendentalist Movement, which was a revolt against the “Age of Reason” and the beginning of Romanticism. Emerson’s essay is about Transcendentalism, the belief that every human has his own way of thinking and personal inborn knowledge to build his opinion, independent from the common beliefs of the community and he should believe in and express his opinion to be successful. Emerson supports the idea of Transcendentalism by urging his readers to trust their own ideas, beliefs and common sense, to listen to and to trust their inner voice and to hold the popular opinion back from influencing their way of thinking, if they want to be successful. He tells