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 judgment or 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. Others

Summary

This quote, from Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience," criticizes how individuals often serve the state as mere machines, devoid of independent thought and moral agency. Thoreau argues that citizens are reduced to the level of inanimate objects, like wood, earth, or stones, and questions the value of such blind obedience. He suggests that some individuals are considered good citizens simply because they obediently fulfill their societal roles, despite lacking deeper critical thinking. Thoreau encourages individuals to exercise their judgment and moral sense, instead of passively conforming to societal expectations.

Topics