Civil Disobedience

Written by Henry David Thoreau

Narrated by Philip Ray

In the essay ‘Civil Disobedience’ (1849), Henry David Thoreau contends that an individual should not allow the government to overrule their conscience, and that it is incumbent upon every one to avoid acquiescence when the government attempts to make one an agent of injustice. It is thought that his motivation for writing the essay was, at least in part, due to his revulsion with slavery and with the Mexican–American War of 1846 to 1848: "This people must cease to hold slaves, and to make war on Mexico, though it cost them their existence as a people." He also argues that it is not appropriate to postpone one’s opposition to injustice until a future election, but that one ought to rather take immediate action to oppose a system as wicked as slavery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yashiki Audio
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781094200323

Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American writer, thinker, naturalist, and leading transcendental philosopher. Graduating from Harvard, Thoreau’s academic fortitude inspired much of his political thought and lead to him being an early and unequivocal adopter of the abolition movement. This ideology inspired his writing of Civil Disobedience and countless other works that contributed to his influence on society. Inspired by the principals of transcendental philosophy and desiring to experience spiritual awakening and enlightenment through nature, Thoreau worked hard at reforming his previous self into a man of immeasurable self-sufficiency and contentment. It was through Thoreau’s dedicated pursuit of knowledge that some of the most iconic works on transcendentalism were created.