# On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

**Author:** Henry Thoreau
**Tags:** Civil disobedience, Government, Resistance to
**Price:** Free
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**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96333

## Description

Henry David Thoreau’s profound essay, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, champions the individual’s moral obligation to resist unjust laws and governments. Penned after his own imprisonment for refusing to pay a poll tax in protest of slavery and the Mexican-American War, Thoreau argues that conscience must take precedence over blindly following societal or state mandates. He critiques governments for often being more detrimental than beneficial, asserting that a true democracy should prioritize the rights and moral compass of its citizens above all else. This seminal work implores readers to act as a "counter friction" to the machine of an unjust state, advocating for peaceful, nonviolent resistance to spark meaningful change. Its powerful message continues to resonate, inspiring movements for justice and freedom around the world by asserting that integrity and principle are paramount to any law.