Civil disobedience Quote by Jon Krakauer
““Thoreau’s declaration in “Civil Disobedience”: “I heartily accept the motto—‘That government is best which governs least.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Civil Disobedience, 1849
Governance is most effective when it intervenes minimally, allowing individual freedom and responsibility to flourish.
In simple terms: Less government is better.
Key Takeaway
Support personal liberty and limit state overreach.
Themes
freedom
government
individualism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- activism
- community organizing
- personal decision making
- public policy debates
Key Concepts
libertarianism
political philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How much government is necessary for a just society?
- When does minimal governance become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Too little regulation can lead to chaos or neglect of vulnerable groups.
![“But [Everett] and McCandless, at least they tried to follow their dream. That’s what was great about them. They tried. Not many do.” quote by Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a0/jon-krakauer-1557_dream_but-everett-and-mccandless-at-least-they_70025.jpg)
![“Continually question climbing pursuits. Do they draw one back to the climbing community? Or do they lead along the [inner-directed] path? This questioning generates a tension that is heightened by disillusionment. Ultimately, one reaches an emptiness, and this is where our basic spontaneous nature…” quote by Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1db/jon-krakauer-1557_journey_continually-question-climbing-pursuits-d_78808.jpg)
![“[Putin] is a bully. And bullies only understand when we punch them in the nose, but we need to do that economically.” quote by Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83a/kelly-ayotte-18873_bully_putin-is-a-bully-and-bullies-only-unders_13021.jpg)
