With this in mind, Thoreau talks about the importance of civil disobedience and what it takes to express it. As it states, “The only obligation which I have the right to assume, is to do at any time what I think is right” (Thoreau 941). Thoreau believes that in order for someone to be able to speak out against society, they themselves need to believe their own thoughts are true and are able to defend it. Therefore, “I think we should be men first, and subjects afterward” (Thoreau 941). A man should not abide to anything he does not want to, even if that includes the government. For example, “When I meet a government which says to me, ‘Your money or your life,’ why should I be in a haste to give it my money” (Thoreau 950)? Also, “It must help itself; do as I do” (Thoreau 950). Thoreau expresses that the government imposing taxation is unfair and unjust, he displays civil disobedience by protesting and not paying his taxes, which leads him to jail, but he …show more content…
As he states, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue” (King 263). A man can only judge from his heart what is right and what is wrong, to be able to speak, defend, and persuade the others to listen to their plea. As it states, “A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God” (King 265). In addition, “Over the past few years I have consistently preached that nonviolence demands that the means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek” (King 273). The goal of a nonviolent demonstrator is obviously not to cause more hate and disorder, but to loudly display themselves and their thoughts to the public and create order in the