Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Thoreau questions whether we should obey unjust laws, try to change them, or break them outright.
- In plain terms
- He asks if we must obey, reform, or defy unjust laws.
- What can you take from it?
- Choose a principled stance toward unjust legislation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What criteria determine when a law is unjust?
- How to weigh personal risk versus moral duty?
Another view
Breaking laws can lead to legal repercussions and social instability.
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