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Comparing Gandhi And Thoreau

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One of the greatest leaders that greatly impacted society and still influences culture today is Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was an advocate for peaceful resistance, he believed in standing up against injustices with peace. On the contrary, there is another great author who impacted society with his literature, and his name is Henry David Thoreau. Henry Thoreau believed in a much different manner of resisting in society. He believed in nonconforming and breaking the law. His literature greatly impacted how society views nonconformity today. Gandhi and Thoreau have many similarities and differences about the way things in society should run, and how the government should govern. Gandhi and Thoreau share many similar thoughts …show more content…

Thoreau had completely different views and perspectives than Gandhi. Thoreau believed in breaking the law if it is unjust or abusive. In the essay Civil Disobedience it says “I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest”. This citation shows that Thoreau did not want to follow the laws. Thoreau also believed in living life by following moral law and not law stated in the constitution. Thoreau also believed that the government does best if it does not rule over the people. In the essay Civil Disobedience it says “That government is best which governs least”. This shows what Thoreau felt the government should not do. Many people felt intimidated by his radical ideas, The government also felt threatened by him. He refused to pay a poll tax and was put into jail, as a civilian it was his responsibility to follow this law but he broke it. Although, he is viewed as a radical and a crazy person he greatly impacted people’s views about speaking out against laws that are abusive. Gandhi and Thoreau had many similar views about how life works and the correct way a citizen should act in a society. They also had very different perspectives, but both of these men influenced and taught our society, how violence and peace come hand in hand and how they should be applied in

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