Explain Thoreau’s attitude towards unjust laws in a democratic state.

Answer

Explain Thoreau’s attitude towards unjust laws in a democratic state. [2021] 

Or, What is Thoreau’s idea about a peaceful revolution against an unfair government? [2017] ✪✪✪

Or, Discuss Thoreau’s view on the people’s discontent of the government. [2016]

Democracy aims to ensure the highest degree of human rights. However, sometimes the government violates the core principles of democracy. In that case, Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) has suggested peaceful revolution. In his famous essay “Civil Disobedience” (1849), the author expresses this deep faith. He believes that when a government becomes unfair and unjust, good citizens must not obey it blindly. He strongly opposes violence and bloodshed. Thoreau wants men to resist injustice peacefully through conscience and truth. For him, a real revolution is moral, not violent. It begins inside the human heart and ends in justice for all.

Rule of Conscience: Thoreau believes that every man must follow his conscience before the law. According to him, people should think of right and wrong by themselves. The law may support injustice, but conscience never does. He says, 

“Can there not be a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?” 

Through this idea, Thoreau teaches that peaceful revolution begins when people heed their moral sense instead of obeying government orders.

Peaceful Disobedience: Thoreau refuses violence as a means of reform. He suggests a calm, spiritual resistance through moral courage. He says that if the law demands us to do wrong, we should disobey it at once, but without hatred or arms. His own refusal to pay taxes against slavery and war shows his belief in peaceful protest. He says, 

“Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine.” 

This means that moral action can stop injustice more effectively than weapons.

Power of the Individual: Thoreau has great trust in the strength of a single man. He feels that one truthful person can shake an unjust system. According to him, we should