Henry David Thoreau: from "Civil Disobedience" - Aphorisms

Question 1

notes

Answer 1

• aphorisms sound a lot like advice; they are words you can live by
• you should be able to summarize some sort of “life lesson”

Question 2

what is the meaning of the aphorism below from Section 19 of Thoreau’s writings on Civil Disobedience?
Section 19: the progress form an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward a true respect for the individual

Answer 2

a monarchy becomes more democratic as it increases in true respect for the individual

Question 3

which of the following is not an aphorism?

Answer 3

• sec 7: how can a man be satisfied to entertain an opinion merely, and enjoy it
• sec 15: I do not hear of men being forced to have this way or that by masses of men
• sec 8: Why is it [government] not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform?

Question 4

what is the meaning of the aphorism underlined in section 6 of Thoreau’s writings on Civil Disobedience?

Answer 4

• we praise soldiers who refuse to fight an unjust war yet support the government that sustains [it]
• we support the evil that we abhor by sustaining the government that carries it out