What does Thoreau mean when he says that those who serve the state with their consciences resist it?

Thoreau explains that men who serve the state with their bodies or minds, but not their consciences, serve the state “as machines” who “rarely make any moral distinctions.” Those who do not serve the state with their conscience do not make their own ethical decisions, but rather, allow the state to dictate such …

What does Thoreau claim is the difference between a wise man and one who votes Part 1 Par 11 )?

What does Thoreau claim is the difference between a “wise man” and one who votes (part 1, par. 11)? Thoreau claims that a “wise man,” unlike a man who votes, does not leave what is morally right “to the mercy of chance” by voting, nor does he care about whether or not the majority is on his side (part 1, par. 11).

How does the wooden gun metaphor in paragraph 2 develop an idea about government and the people?

How does the wooden gun metaphor in paragraph 2 develop an idea about government and the people? The metaphor of government as a “wooden gun” develops the idea that government looks powerful but is actually useless. How does Thoreau’s reference to “complicated machinery” develop an idea about government (part 1, par.

What does Thoreau’s metaphor suggest about the authority of the Bible and the Constitution in paragraph 17?

Thoreau’s metaphor suggests that there may be higher sources of truth than the Bible and the Constitution.

How does Thoreau qualify his argument in paragraph 40?

Note how Thoreau qualifies his argument in paragraph 40. How does using thisstrategy serve his rhetorical purpose? He explains his intention of doing what he does and then goes ahead to use a quote to furthersupport his argument. He explains that every year, he seeks a reason to conform to thesociety.

How does Thoreau believe the government has been abused and perverted?

As it is, government rarely proves useful or efficient. It is often “abused and perverted” so that it no longer represents the will of the people. “But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.

What does Thoreau mean by saying that he must not pursue his own interests while sitting upon another man’s shoulders I must get off him first?

In “Resistance to Civil Government,” what does Thoreau mean by saying that he must not pursue his own interest while “sitting upon another man’s shoulders… I must get off him first” (page 237) Thoreau means that he must not support government actions that hurt others.

What does Thoreau mean when he says that the character of the voters is not staked in voting?

What does Thoreau mean when he says that “the character of the voters is not staked” in voting? He means the voter’s character is not at stake in the election; the voter has nothing personal to lose because he has turned over responsibility for the decision to the majority.

How does Thoreau describe his time in jail?

par. 1). Thoreau describes the jail as an interesting place with its own history. His night in prison is “novel and interesting enough” (part 3, par.

Why does Thoreau refer to civil disobedience not merely as a right but as a duty?

2. Thoreau refers to civil disobedience as not simply a right, but as a duty merely because individuals are responsible for the actions taken by the government. The government is only what the people let it be, and it can be corrupted and abused if men allow it be.

What idea is Thoreau stressing in telling us about getting his shoe fixed and leading the huckleberry party on the day he was released?

What point is Thoreau making by telling us he got his shoes fixed and led the huckleberry party on the day he was released? It shows that he considered spending a night in jail for standing up for his beliefs to be just one of his various activities that week. It wasn’t special or particularly life-changing.

How does Thoreau describe his night in jail?

His night in prison is “novel and interesting enough” (part 3, par. 1). In paragraph 2, he describes how he entertains himself by looking out the window and learning the history of the prison: “I found that even here there was a history and a gossip which never circulated beyond the walls of the jail” (part 3, par. 2).