“All voting is a sort of gaming” -Explain
Civil Disobedience is a notable literary work by Henry David Thoreau. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Civil Disobedience.
Answer
“All voting is a sort of gaming” -Explain with reference to the context. [2021] ✪✪✪ Or, Why does Thoreau think that voting is merely a sort of a gaming? [2019, 2017]
Aristotle called democracy a system of government for fools because all citizens’ votes are of equal value. Following his tone, Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) criticizes blind faith in democracy. He believes moral truth cannot be decided by majority vote. For him, voting is not a duty of conscience but only a weak expression of opinion.
Meaning of the Statement: Thoreau compares voting to gambling because both depend on chance. He says that people vote for the right as players bet on luck. He writes,
“Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it.”
A true man of conscience should act for truth, not wait for others’ approval.
Majority Rule vs. Moral Right: In a democracy, the majority often decides what becomes law. But Thoreau argues that numbers cannot define right and wrong. He asks,
“Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?”
For him, moral justice must come from conscience, not the crowd.
Passive Nature of Voting: Voting provides citizens with a sense of duty without requiring real sacrifice. Thoreau believes it changes nothing if people just choose sides. He says,
“That government is best which governs least.”
This line means that personal action is more powerful than voting. The right should win by action, not by paper ballots.
In short, Thoreau calls voting “a sort of gaming” because it is uncertain, lazy, and moral only in appearance. He wants men to rise above politics and act with conscience in pursuit of truth and justice.