This sentence is a clear example of the Romantic ideal individualism. The idea that the government should generally stay out of people’s way is a common thought that people who believe in individualism want. Thoreau openly accepts this idea, and wishes that it was enforced more effectively. Perhaps he wants this for economic reasons, mainly to become richer. However, I think that Thoreau and other Romantics believed in individualism because they thought that people should create their own system by which they live. Government automatically restricts this idea, and so Thoreau and other Romantics did not like a strong government.

This sentence best exemplifies the self reliant and individualist attitudes of the trancendentalists. This dislike of statism is most evident here, as this quote implies it as incompatible with free individuals

This is the best line in the text because it shows how Thoreau feels about the government. The way he uses expedient and inexpedient suggest that he is skeptical of the government. He says that the government is able to achieve things in certain cases but it can’t do anything more. He expresses that governments are mainly not suitable and inefficient. The government appears to only be an expedient and a way to get to the end of something. It exists because people have chosen to let the government carry out their will. However, it is prone to misuse. In today’s society, this still remains true and there are people in the government who abuse their power. We see police today abuse their power by using excessive force, doing warrantless searches and arrests, and assaulting citizens. All of this connects to Thoreau’s ideas because police are supposed to get to the end of something but they commonly misuse this system and their power.

This quote demonstrates the romantic ideal of individualism. Thoreau develops the idea that the individual is full of “vitality and force” through his comparison between a man and the government, which he calls a “tradition.” This contrast shows that strong beliefs make an individual powerful and that the government is weakening and becoming less effective. He demonstrates that individuals possess enough power and influence to make someone do something. This shows the value of the individual and that the government is not all that powerful. And that the individual can have a large impact on the government.

This quote is interesting because while it does not explicitly state a key concept of romanticism, it does suggest a criticism of those who fail to meet these ideas, and thus, explores romantic ideals. Specifically, the crude way in which Thoreau states the people’s “…complicated machinery…” implies his opposite view on the matter. The romantic ideas of withdrawal so as to maintain individuality and clarity are tarnished by the government, as it directly opposes this natural human separation practice. People congregate to gain both safety and unity, but this “satisfaction” of human desire is met with contempt and scorn. The people are achieving nothing, but only ignoring the truth of life. The romantic ideas of individuality and human understanding are cast to the wayside by those too weak to attempt their own journey and will sit there until they regret the weight of their actions, as regret is a vision with perfect clarity.

This quote, including the 3 sentences above it demonstrates the romantic ideals because it is saying that the American people were the ones who kept their country free and settled the west, not the constitution. He is arguing that unlike what many thought at the time the constitution did not serve to make these things happen for Americans. He is arguing that the spirit of the people motivated them to accomplish what they did. In the time of today, we tend to think that the constitution accomplished a ton of things after it was written, but in reality, it is a piece of paper. The only reason that it carries weight is that the American people honor it, and follow it. Therefore the accomplishments of the constitution are in actuality the accomplishments of the people.

This line is the best in the text because he is saying that the government slows things down instead of gets them done and that he does want a government, just not the one that is available right now. This is great because It has a deeper meaning, that he is comparing those who slow down trade as the same as people who are punished for blocking railroads. This could signify a strike from a railroad company, and the people forming blockades are the protestors. Also, the fact that he is not wanting no government shows that he knows that a government is the best thing for a people. But by asking for a better government, that is pretty general, meaning that he wants the best government for all, not just himself. I find the comparison with this quote in today’s world because there are a lot of protests and hypocrisy among congresspeople going on right now, and calling them out on it does nothing. The asking for a better government for the people is also a common theme in the protests, and I am sure that like today, he was misunderstood for only wanting a government that benefits him.

This sentence reveals Thoreau’s main grievance under government rule. He states that the only reason the majority rule is not that they are more just than the minority but that they have the power to seize control. The main implication in this claim is that the majority ruling due to power makes them unjust, which ties to the romantic ideal of the importance of the individual. This pure focus on individuality leads to self importance, sometimes beneficial and others not. Because an individual is more important than a rule they deem to be unjust it is impossible to operate within a society governed by said rules. The motivation for Thoreau’s protest of majority rule is somewhat questionable, as his main action against injustices was refusing to pay taxes. Taking issue with ways our country is operating is common and necessary for improvement, however the actions taken to correct these issues must be more than a social or political statement to avoid self-indulgence. It is not rare for people to have legitimate grievances with the world that affect not only them but many others and naturally gravitate towards only addressing the parts of these grievances that affect them. Often an effective way to deal with this is pushing for impact rather than simply messaging.

This would be the best line in the text because it speaks for itself by saying that a government as “fair as ours” still show very little mercy to some who do wrong.

This line is the best line, I believe, of the text for many reasons. The main one being that I think it encompasses the most important question romanticism raises. It raises the questions of abandoning freewill for the government for whatever reason, but that whatever the reason, is it really good enough that you would give up your freedom for it? Also this sentence is what really made this whole text believable to me, in terms of persuasion and understanding. This sentence got right to the point and the root of romanticism at it’s core, and asked the question of how far will you go in terms of morality/liberty for the government?

Thoreau is describing here his belief that they should place their own well-being morally and ethically above their potential duties as a citizen. This demonstrates the romantic concept of individualism, and the individual’s ability to determine what is right for themself. He is using this as evidence for his civil disobedience, saying that those individuals outside of the majority still must stand up for what is right. In terms of a wider message, it represents the spiritual self-centerdness that comes with Romanticism. The notion that the individual can be literally the center of their own universe is heavily Romantic, and it reflects that deep and unshakeable desire of Romantics of the era to stand out of the crowd and create their own proverbial map of society and the world.

There were many great lines in the text. But for me, the best line was “It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience.” I have often heard it said that corporations have no conscience and therefore it appears that no one is at fault. Yet the line above clarifies that it really is an individual thing and that we can and should hold corporations to account. Our obligation as individuals is to do what is right.

This line says that many people, instead of taking action, wait, feel guilty, and sometimes petition. Thoreau is saying that many people won’t take action about injustices. In today’s world, we see this with the protests over police brutality, and how many (usually white) people are still ridden with guilt that stops them from doing anything to help, leaving them to do nothing and just hope that it gets better.

This is the best sentence because of it’s imagery and message. In this sentence Thoreau is saying that when one chooses to pursue something they must make sure they are not using someone else to do it. The imagery of being on another’s shoulders gives the idea of putting another down to put yourself up. People often use others for self advancement while hurting that person. Sometimes this happens without one thinking about it, such as buying inhumanely made materials. That’s why it is important to check, as Thoreau says, to make sure one’s success does not come at the cost of another.

This sentence shows major Romantic beliefs such as non- conformity, self- reliance, and free thought. Thoreau talks about unjust laws and the option to revolt against them or to just stand by and let it happen. He is not afraid to speak his mind about what he believes is wrong and what he believes others should do about it. He is also not silent in his opinions about the government which is made clear in this whole section of text. It is sometimes dangerous to speak out against the government but because of this era, the focus shifts dramatically into saying what is on your mind even when that tends to not be popular. We kept and exhibit these ideals today with all of the protests, upcoming elections, etc. By speaking your mind and gathering people with the same thought, some sort of change can be made no matter how big or small.

In Thoreau’s saying this, the initial meaning to be gleaned is essentially that unfair government will never be just unfair to the people it wrongs directly. Similarly, he means that if the government is unfair, the people with morals have a responsibility to revolt against that injustice. Now, in the context of Thoreau’s own experience with tax fraud and a brief bout in jail, it becomes clear that his personal feelings of anger against the government are quite selfishly founded. Though Thoreau was honestly for the rights of BIPOC, he also revolted against the government in small and mostly not relevant to the cause of abolition such as this instance of not paying his taxes that led to an overnight stay in a jail. But, of course, most people want to see justice done, especially against people in power. In this case, people like Thoreau saw huge problems happening like slavery and the forced removal of Indigenous peoples. But whatever and wherever the issue, the notion that raging against a corrupt machine is the morally right thing to do is something shared amongst like-minded progressives.

This is the best sentence because it describes the inequity that existed in that time and still exists today. Thoreau discuss the fact that people are being wrongfully imprisoned, and he highlights that these are non-white Americans who just want freedom, like the Native American who wanted justice for the genocide against his people. He also points out that the United States, which fought for the freedom of its people, refuses to give people their freedom. Instead, it takes that liberty away and locks them up to silence them.

This sentence reflects the romantic ideal of non-conformity. Thoreau is saying that a minority loses itself and its power if it conforms but through non-conformity can become powerful. This connects to the general romantic focus on the individual, as Thoreau is calling for the individuality of people to be highlighted instead of swept away by the majority. There is often a pressure in the world to conform and follow what everyone else does or says. Often times the uniqueness of a person will be pushed down and hidden, either by themselves or others. However, the romantic era and Thoreau preach the power of this uniqueness and the importance of individuality.

This is without a doubt the best line of the text. Presented as almost a thesis of sorts, Thoreau states that this revolution of his dreams sits at the fulcrum of the people and the union of the people. As balance has been wrongfully ousted from the people, Thoreau suggests that the people may reagin this balance (an imbalance, even) through simply dispersing. This revolution is merely a cycle in which the ending is the antithesis of the beginning- unity. Unity is power and power is corruption, so through the refusal by which there is no remedy, the union of government cannot and will not exist without loyal participants. He draws upon these new ideas of natural rights and liberty in an effort to appeal to those like him who view the government as a limitation of right and liberty, and through this line, describes human nature of bonds and affiliation as well.

This sentence is the best line in the text, because it summarizes the transcendentalist values of Thoreau. It says that an government should not have the right to control any individual’s person or their property, beyond what control they allow. This directly relates to the well established transcendentalist idea that an individual is the best authority of one’s self. In a broader sense, Thoreau is arguing that an government is inherently worse than anything before because the person governing you is someone else besides yourself.

This is the best line because it explains his entire objective in one powerful sentence. Thoreau is stating that the government and the people that they are governing will never be free until the government accepts that the people hold all power. He is also pointing out that the people literally make up the government itself and they should be treated better because of this. It is very clear that what he is arguing applies to our world today which is quite interesting and makes this sentence stronger by the added meaning. The point of this sentence shows us that we are more than what the government thinks we are and we should stand up for our connected beliefs when they are being targeted. It also depicts reality because our government was never built to serve minorities but to uphold the values that were already there and not to accept the new ones. When looking through a critical lens, it seems as though people have never really been “free” because of how the government is structured.