Quote by Henry David Thoreau

If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible.

If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year,

Summary

This quote suggests that peacefully refusing to pay taxes can have a more significant impact in the pursuit of change than blindly complying. By withholding funds from the State, one is preventing them from using those resources to commit acts of violence or harm innocent individuals. It implies that a peaceful revolution lies in challenging the system through non-violent means, such as economic resistance, in order to bring about meaningful social and political change.

Topics

Taxation

By Henry David Thoreau

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