Walking / Henry David Thoreau

Title: Walking 

Author: Henry David Thoreau

Subjects: Essay; Lecture 

Walking is a transcendental essay in which Thoreau talks about the importance of nature to mankind, and how people cannot survive without nature, physically, mentally, and spiritually, yet we seem to be spending more and more time entrenched by society. 

On the Duty of Civil Disobedience / Henry David Thoreau

Title: On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (Resistance to Civil Government)

Author: Henry David Thoreau

Subjects: Essay; Philosophy; Political; Social

Thoreau argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences, and they have a duty to avoid allowing such acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice. It influence: Mohandas Gandhi,

Walden / Henry David Thoreau

Title: Walden 

Author: Henry David Thoreau

Subjects: Autobiography; Philosophy; Social 

It is about simple living in natural surroundings. It is also a kind of personal declaration of independence by Thoreau. It is also a social experiment. Actually Thoreau hoped to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection by living alone in Walden self dependently. Thoreau inspires.

Wild Apples / Henry David Thoreau

THE HISTORY OF THE APPLE-TREE.

It is remarkable how closely the history of the Apple-tree is

connected with that of man. The geologist tells us that the order of

the Rosaceae, which includes the Apple, also the true Grasses, and

the Labiatae, or Mints, were introduced only a short time previous

to the appearance of man on the globe.

Walking / Henry David Thoreau

I wish to speak a word for Nature, for absolute freedom and wildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merely civil--to regard man as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society. I wish to make an extreme statement, if so I may make an emphatic one, for there are enough champions of civilization: the minister and the school committee and every one of you will take care of that.

Slavery in Massachusetts / Henry David Thoreau

I lately attended a meeting of the citizens of Concord, expecting, as one among many, to speak on the subject of slavery in Massachusetts; but I was surprised and disappointed to find that what had called my townsmen together was the destiny of Nebraska, and not of Massachusetts, and that what I had to say would be entirely out of order. I had thought that the house was on fire, and not the prairie; but though several of the citizens of Massachusetts are now in prison for attempting to rescue a slave from her own clutches, not one of the speakers at that meeting expressed regret for it, not one even referred to it. It was only the disposition of some wild lands a thousand miles off which appeared to concern them. The inhabitants of Concord are not prepared to stand by one of their own bridges, but talk only of taking up a position on the highlands beyond the Yellowstone River. Our Buttricks and Davises and Hosmers are retreating thither, and I fear that they will leave no Lexington Common between them and the enemy. There is not one slave in Nebraska; there are perhaps a million slaves in Massachusetts.

On the Duty of Civil Disobedience / Henry David Thoreau

I heartily accept the motto, -- "That government is best which

governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly

and systematically. Carried out, 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 the kind of

government which they will have. Government is at best but an

expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are

sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought

against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve

to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing

government.

A Plea For Captain John Brown / Henry David Thoreau

I trust that you will pardon me for being here. I do not wish to

force my thoughts upon you, but I feel forced myself. Little as I

know of Captain Brown, I would fain do my part to correct the tone

and the statements of the newspapers, and of my countrymen generally,

respecting his character and actions. It costs us nothing to be

just. We can at least express our sympathy with, and admiration

of, him and his companions, and that is what I now propose to do.