eble countenance and Godspeed, to the right, as it goes by them.9 Thoreau thought that it was not enough to feel strongly for something, if no actions were to come of it. His views on slavery were the strongest, and though it was not he who was enslaved, he knew it was wrong and condemned others for not having the courage to do anything about it. He also knew that men were not going to stand up as individuals to fight for the rights of others. Men act only in numbers, and there is little virtue in the actions of masses of men. When the majority shall, at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will the be the only slaves. Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his own freedom by his vote.10 By refusing to pay his taxes, Thoreau was stating the simple fact that he was not going to support financially what he did not believe to be just government. He also believed that if man could survive without money, he would be a better person because money was a major influence in all problems. If man could be self sufficient without money, there would be no need for a ruling party over the people. If man could survive relying only by his own means, he would be stronger than others who depend on other people to live.The rich man is always sold to the institution which makes him rich. Absolutely speaking, themore money, the less virtue; for money comes between a man and his objects, and obtains them for him; and it was certainly no great virtue to obtain it.11Thoreau honestly felt that when a man did become rich, the only way in which he could make himself truly worthy was to remain the way he did when he was poor. By making his thoughts and feelings accessible in books and poems, he became recognised for his ideals. Thoreau did not make drastic changes the way Martin Luther King did, b...
