--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Governments show thus how successfully…" description: "\"Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/henry-david-thoreau-20_advantage_governments-show-thus-how-successfully-m_1573243.jpg" --- # Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed… ![“Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/henry-david-thoreau-20_advantage_governments-show-thus-how-successfully-m_1573243.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/henry-david-thoreau-20_advantage_governments-show-thus-how-successfully-m_1573243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/henry-david-thoreau-20_advantage_governments-show-thus-how-successfully-m_1573243.jpg) > “Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments/) [Governments Successfully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governments-successfully-5927327/) [Impose Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impose-advantage-3141175/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Imposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-imposed-3885077/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Successfully Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successfully-men-5927328/) ## Related quotes > [“Do learn to say no. Many people will take and take from you, and keep on taking. They will drain you, aggravate you, impose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-stein/do-learn-to-say-no-many-people-will-take-and-take-from-you-and-keep/) [Diane Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-stein/) > [I bow before the authority of special men because it is imposed upon me by my own reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/i-bow-before-the-authority-of-special-men-because-it-is-imposed-upon/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/government-is-at-best-but-an-expedient-but-most-governments-are-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. 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