ran 2.9 milesToday ends week thirty-seven of running against Obama. I ran 21.5 miles this week, averaging 3.07 miles per day.
I have some quotes for today’s post from Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”. Thoreau is one of my favorite writers and I recently stumbled across and purchased an old edition of “Walden” and “Civil Disobedience” at a garage sale. The copy I purchased (for a quarter) was printed in the mid-twentieth century when books had only cost $0.75. “Civil Disobedience” is only twenty pages long and it is filled with quote after profound quote. This essay was first published in 1849 out of Massachusetts. The first quote is one you will recognize.
“That government is best which governs least.”
“The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.”
“Trade and commerce, if they were not made of India-rubber, would never manage to bounce over the obstacles which legislators are continually putting in their way; and, if one were to judge these men wholly by the effects of their actions and not partly by their intentions, they would deserve to be classed and punished with those mischievous persons who put obstructions on the railroads.”
“Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice.”
“He who gives himself entirely to his fellow men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist.”
“I quarrel not with far-off foes, but with those who, near at home, cooperate with, and do the bidding of, those far away, and without whom the latter would be harmless.”
“Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.”
“Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence.”
“The best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor.”
“Know all men by these presents, that I, Henry Thoreau, do not wish to be regarded as a member of any incorporated society which I have not joined.”
“They who know of no purer sources of truth, who have traced up its stream no higher, stand, and wisely stand, by the Bible and the Constitution, and drink at it there with reverence and humility; but they who behold where it comes trickling into this lake or that pool, gird up their loins once more, and continue their pilgrimage toward its fountain-head.”
“If we were left solely to the wordy wit of legislators in Congress for our guidance, uncorrected by the seasonable experience and the effectual complaints of the people, America would not long retain her rank among the nations.”
“There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.”
1,323.6 miles to go.
I have some quotes for today’s post from Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”. Thoreau is one of my favorite writers and I recently stumbled across and purchased an old edition of “Walden” and “Civil Disobedience” at a garage sale. The copy I purchased (for a quarter) was printed in the mid-twentieth century when books had only cost $0.75. “Civil Disobedience” is only twenty pages long and it is filled with quote after profound quote. This essay was first published in 1849 out of Massachusetts. The first quote is one you will recognize.
“That government is best which governs least.”
“The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.”
“Trade and commerce, if they were not made of India-rubber, would never manage to bounce over the obstacles which legislators are continually putting in their way; and, if one were to judge these men wholly by the effects of their actions and not partly by their intentions, they would deserve to be classed and punished with those mischievous persons who put obstructions on the railroads.”
“Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice.”
“He who gives himself entirely to his fellow men appears to them useless and selfish; but he who gives himself partially to them is pronounced a benefactor and philanthropist.”
“I quarrel not with far-off foes, but with those who, near at home, cooperate with, and do the bidding of, those far away, and without whom the latter would be harmless.”
“Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.”
“Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence.”
“The best thing a man can do for his culture when he is rich is to endeavor to carry out those schemes which he entertained when he was poor.”
“Know all men by these presents, that I, Henry Thoreau, do not wish to be regarded as a member of any incorporated society which I have not joined.”
“They who know of no purer sources of truth, who have traced up its stream no higher, stand, and wisely stand, by the Bible and the Constitution, and drink at it there with reverence and humility; but they who behold where it comes trickling into this lake or that pool, gird up their loins once more, and continue their pilgrimage toward its fountain-head.”
“If we were left solely to the wordy wit of legislators in Congress for our guidance, uncorrected by the seasonable experience and the effectual complaints of the people, America would not long retain her rank among the nations.”
“There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.”
1,323.6 miles to go.
Great quotes!
ReplyDeleteJ
“We could set up a system where food is probably cheaper than it is right now, if we just eliminated meat inspectors.” Barack Obama
ReplyDeleteJ
Love Thoreau! He had courage and stood up against everything he had to lose.
ReplyDeleteI'm not too familiar with his works but I've heard about him and his time at Walden pond from English class.
ReplyDeleteJ