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08/01/2005 Archived Entry: "McElroy on Thoreau and "Civil Disobedience""

NO SINGLE PIECE OF WRITING IN THE WORLD MEANS MORE TO ME than Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience." Wendy McElroy explains the reasons beautifully in this longish essay.

How interesting that even Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was very close to Thoreau, misunderstood Thoreau's reasons for refusing to pay a tax and ending up in jail. Emerson saw it as a purposeless gesture. But what could possibly have more purpose than living true to one's own principles and conscience?

Otherwise, what point is there in having principles or conscience?

Posted by Claire @ 11:20 AM CST
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