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If an injustice requires you to be the agent of injustice…

“If an injustice requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the government machine.” quote by Henry David Thoreau
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“If an injustice requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the government machine.”

Henry David Thoreau

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When laws perpetuate injustice, moral duty may require breaking them to resist oppression.

In simple terms: Sometimes breaking unjust laws is necessary.

Key Takeaway

Stand against systemic injustice.

Themes

justice civil disobedience ethics

Mood

defiant thoughtful

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

  • social movements
  • legal reform
  • personal protest

Key Concepts

moral responsibility political activism

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you faced an unjust rule?
  • What peaceful alternatives exist?
A Different Perspective

Risk of legal repercussions and societal backlash.

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