Questions tagged [henry-david-thoreau]
For questions about the life and works of transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau (1817 – 1862). He is best known for his book 'Walden' and his essay "Civil Disobedience".
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Of what people, of what liquor-agency does Thoreau speak in this paragraph from "The Last Days of John Brown"?
In The Last Days of John Brown, Thoreau writes:
All through the excitement occasioned by his remarkable attempt and subsequent behavior, the Massachusetts Legislature, not taking any steps for the ...
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To what "attack on the Boston Court-House" does Thoreau allude in this paragraph from "Slavery in Massachusetts"?
In Slavery in Massachusetts, Thoreau writes:
The events of the past month teach me to distrust Fame. I see that she does not finely discriminate, but coarsely hurrahs. She considers not the simple ...
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What does Thoreau mean by "pew hire" in this paragraph from "Slavery in Massachusetts"?
In Slavery in Massachusetts, Thoreau writes:
Among measures to be adopted, I would suggest to make as earnest and vigorous an assault
on the press as has already been made, and with effect, on the ...
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What prior "case of the murderer himself" does Thoreau have in mind in "Slavery in Massachusetts"?
In Slavery in Massachusetts, Thoreau writes:
It is, to some extent, fatal to the courts, when the people are compelled to go behind them. I do not wish to believe that the courts were made for fair ...
- 1,073
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To what laws does Thoreau allude in "Slavery in Massachusetts"?
In Slavery in Massachusetts, Thoreau writes:
I have read a recent law of this State, making it penal for any officer of the “Commonwealth”
to “detain or aid in the … detention,” anywhere within its ...
- 1,073
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What does Thoreau mean by making one's pack in this paragraph from "Slavery in Massachusetts"?
In Slavery in Massachusetts, Thoreau writes:
Again it happens that the Boston Court-House is full of armed men, holding prisoner and trying a MAN, to find out if he is not really a SLAVE. Does any ...
- 1,073
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Of what judge does Thoreau speak in this passage from "A Plea for Captain John Brown"?
In A Plea for Captain John Brown, Thoreau writes:
Any man knows when he is justified, and all the wits in the world cannot enlighten him on that point. The murderer always knows that he is justly ...
- 1,073
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Of what veil does Thoreau speak and what does he mean by being missing in this passage from "A Plea for Captain John Brown"?
In A Plea for Captain John Brown, Thoreau writes:
This event advertises me that there is such a fact as death—the possibility of a man’s dying. It seems as if no man had ever died in America before; ...
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What did Thoreau mean in the "treason" passage from "A Plea for Captain John Brown"?
In A Plea for Captain John Brown, Thoreau writes:
Treason! Where does such treason take its rise? I cannot help thinking of you as you deserve,
ye governments. Can you dry up the fountains of thought?...
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What does Thoreau mean about counting votes in this passage?
In A Plea for Captain John Brown, Thoreau writes:
A man does a brave and humane deed, and at once, on all sides, we hear people and parties declaring, “I didn’t do it, nor countenance him to do it, ...
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What is meant by Thoreau in "A church that can never have done with excommunicating Christ while it exists!"?
In A Plea for Captain John Brown, Thoreau writes:
A church that can never have done with excommunicating Christ while it exists! Away with your broad and flat churches, and your narrow and tall ...
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What does Thoreau mean about the Tract Society printing the story of Putnam?
In A Plea for Captain John Brown, Thoreau writes:
“Served him right”—“A dangerous man”—“He is undoubtedly insane.” So they proceed to live their sane, and wise, and altogether admirable lives, ...
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What mechanics does Thoreau associate with earning bread?
In the first chapter of Walden; or Life in the Woods, Thoreau writes:
If I wished a boy to know something about the arts and sciences, for instance, I would not pursue the common course, which is ...
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Of what vagabond does Thoreau speak in this sentence?
In the first chapter of Walden; or Life in the Woods, Thoreau writes:
If I wished a boy to know something about the arts and sciences, for instance, I would not pursue the common course, which is ...
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What kind of failures of merchants does Thoreau describe in this passage?
In the first chapter of Walden; or Life in the Woods, Thoreau says:
What has been said of the merchants, that
a very large majority, even ninety-seven in a hundred, are sure to fail, is
equally true ...
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Where in "Walden" does Thoreau "hug trees"?
Thoreau is sometimes taken to be a "tree-hugging dreamer". While I understand this is meant to be somewhat of a metaphor, the notion of him hugging trees in Walden is persistent and ...
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"Tradition is meant to be broken" - who said it, Emerson or Thoreau?
I seem to recall a quote from either Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry David Thoreau that was something like "Tradition is meant to be broken." Which of them said it?
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Did Thoreau respond to claims that he was an anarchist?
When reading Henry David Thoreau's Wikipedia page I found that he has been called an anarchist for his essay "Civil Disobedience". Reading the essay I can see where these claims are coming ...
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What does Justice Scalia mean by "Thoreauvian 'you-may-do-what-you-like-so-long-as-it-does-not-injure-someone-else' beau ideal"?
I'm more interested in literature than law here. I think this means the same thing as "your rights end where mine begin"? Scalia is alluding to Henry David Thoreau, but my English is too ...
user11334
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Who is Thoreau quoting (or paraphrasing) here in Walden?
The passage in question is in Walden's conclusion:
The philosopher said "From an army of three divisions one can take
away its general, and put it in disorder; from the man the most abject
and ...
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Meaning of "Old deeds for old people, and new deeds for new" in "Walden"
In the first chapter of Walden; or Life in the Woods, Thoreau says:
What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true to-day may turn out to be falsehood tomorrow, mere smoke of opinion, which ...
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