The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army; and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgement of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well. Such command no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt. They have the same sort of worth only as horses and dogs. Yet such as these even are commonly esteemed good citizens (p. 223).
Henry David Thoreau was the was the author of the essay "Civil Disobedience" in which he strongly believed that breaking the law and challenging the authorities was the right thing to do if these laws were unjust. Although he rebelled against those unjust laws the main purpose of his essay was for everyone to act without committing any violence. This quote relates to the lecture text because Thoreau becomes aware on how the authority has the abuse that these laws. He states in this quote that "The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies." He is trying to explain that people are following the law but being brainwashed into the system and not viewing how the government is using them as tools. Thoreau rebelled by not paying his taxes and going to jail because he will not support how the government will not do good with all this money.
I chose this piece by Thoreau because it revolutionized how people should respect the law but also stand for what they believe in if its unjust. Furthermore, because of how he goes about it, which is a non-violent approach. This movement has inspired many historical activist such as Malcolm X, and Dr Martin Luther King to respect the laws but also make sure is equal and fair for everybody.
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