jaej

Does anyone have any thoughts about Thoreau? I can say he has been one of the most influential people in my life. His stuff about simple living and his casual disregard for rules he didn't like speaks volumes about how people should live.

Has anyone read any of his work? What do you think?

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jaej

Hmm...

Apparently not many people like him..or me..lol

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mister_lister

I've read him, a while ago, and I took everything he wrote to heart. It has been years since I read him, but his effect on my life is still present. I live a very simple life. His writings on "Civil Disobedience" had a huge effect on MLK and Others. This is an author I strongly suggest.

I wouldn't say he had a "casual disregard of rules", it is a bit more complicated than that. He questioned everything, if it made sense in practical terms, he would incorporate it into his life.

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"The trouble is not with what we don't know, it is with what we think we know that just ain't so". ~ Mark Twain

jaej

I didn't mean casual like he's just 'oh, I really don't like that rule so it can **** itself.' What I meant was, if there was a law he had serious issue with, it wasn't a big deal for him to just not follow it.

And I could be wrong, but I think the majority of people who read civil disobedience misinterpret it.

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lauraclay

how do you know you're not misinterpreting it?

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The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

jaej

I don't. A common misconception people have about the essay though is that it promotes non-violent resistance, like Gandhi or MLK. However, 'civil' doesn't refer to non-violence, it merely refers to resistance against the state.

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lauraclay

That's what 'civil disobedience' means...
Is that just what you thought it was before you read it more?

__________________

The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

jaej

Nope, it's just a common misconception.

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lauraclay

Hm, never heard that before.

__________________

The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

jaej

Common, not universal.

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