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Civil Disobedience
Henry David Thoreau
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Student Resource Project PublicationsVancouver, CanadaCopyright © 2000This etext may be freely distributed and reproduced.
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CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
by Henry David Thoreau
Originally Published in 1849
I heartily accept the motto, “That government isbest which governs least”; and I should like to see itacted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carriedout, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe-“That government is best which governs not at all”;and when men are prepared for it, that will be thekind of government which they will have.Government is at best but an expedient; but mostgovernments are usually, and all governments aresometimes, inexpedient. The objections which havebeen brought against a standing army, and they aremany and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may alsoat last be brought against a standing government. Thestanding army is only an arm of the standinggovernment. The government itself, which is only themode which the people have chosen to execute theirwill, is equally liable to be abused and pervertedbefore the people can act through it. Witness thepresent Mexican war, the work of comparatively afew individuals using the standing government astheir tool; for, in the outset, the people would nothave consented to this measure. This Americangovernment- what is it but a tradition, though a
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