Question

In this passage from “Civil Disobedience,” what can we infer?

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.


Thoreau thinks acting up to government is unwise and unpatriotic.


Thoreau thinks most people are not yet prepared for living without any government.


Thoreau understands the importance of a powerful government to keep people in line.


Thoreau would have preferred that the United States did not break away from Great Britain.

Answer 1

Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian, two of his greatest works are: "Resistance to Civil Government" (also known as "Civil Disobedience") and "The Mask of Anarchy". His ideals can be summarized by this statement: “the Government should not have more power than the bestowed by its citizens”.

Henry David Thoreau was even imprisoned for refusing to pay taxes in protest for the Mexican-American War and the slavery.

In this passage from “Civil Disobedience,” we can infer that:

Thoreau thinks most people are not yet prepared for living without any government.

here we have the evidence for the answer: "...and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have."

Answer 2

The correct answer is option two.

David Thoreau believed that the best government is the one which interferes the least in the lives of citizens. He said that governments should not intervene in people's lives more than it is necessary. For example, to guarantee the rights of freedom and safety, as well as to protect citizens from crime. As a result, people will pursue such governments when they feel fully prepared.