Advantage Quote by Henry David Thoreau
“Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Civil Disobedience, 1849
People can be forced to act against their own interests, even to their own detriment, when power pressures them.
In simple terms: Power can make people act against themselves.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist undue influence.
Themes
power
individualism
ethics
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- workplace decisions
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
social contract
autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify when you are being imposed upon?
- What strategies help maintain personal autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Often the pressure is subtle and internalized, making resistance hard.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
