Thoreau to Emerson...one of my all time favorite "political" quotes

[underpants]

This account says that Thoreau's one night in jail was due to refusal to pay the poll tax because of slavery.
Other accounts mention his opposition to slavery as well as "Polk's War"- the Mexican-American War which is eerily similar to the War on Iraq.

“Civil Disobedience” is an analysis of the individual’s relationship to the state that focuses on why men obey governmental law even when they believe it to be unjust. But “Civil Disobedience” is not an essay of abstract theory. It is Thoreau’s extremely personal response to being imprisoned for breaking the law. Because he detested slavery and because tax revenues contributed to the support of it, Thoreau decided to become a tax rebel. There were no income taxes and Thoreau did not own enough land to worry about property taxes; but there was the hated poll tax — a capital tax levied equally on all adults within a community.

Thoreau declined to pay the tax and so, in July 1846, he was arrested and jailed. He was supposed to remain in jail until a fine was paid which he also declined to pay. Without his knowledge or consent, however, relatives settled the “debt” and a disgruntled Thoreau was released after only one night.

Thoreau may have also brooded over the reaction of Emerson, who criticized the imprisonment as pointless.
According to some accounts, Emerson visited Thoreau in jail and asked, “Henry, what are you doing in there?”

Thoreau replied, “Waldo, the question is what are you doing out there?”
http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0503e.asp

[EFerrari]

1. My two very dearest and favorite geeks.

:rofl:

:toast:

[Idealism]

2. "As if you could kill time without injuring eternity."

One of my favorites.

[underpants]

3. A few more

A woman to Adlai Stevenson while running against Eisenhower
"There isn't a thinking man or woman in this country who won't vote for you"

Adlai
"That's fine ma'am but I need a majority"
---

New York City mayor Jimmy Walker after being told of a survey that found that 3/4 of the women polled would sleep with a man on the first date
"I am encouraged by this information but dammit we need NAMES!"
---

California Democrat Dick Tuck

As the ballot totals piled against him on Election Night, the candidate was asked his reaction. Referring back to his cemetery speech, Tuck quipped, "Just wait till the dead vote comes in." When defeat became inevitable, Tuck made the now notorious statement, "The people have spoke, the bastards."
---

Ghandi was asked by a reporter what he thought of Western Civilization
Ghandi "I think it is a good idea"

[Daveparts]

4. Churchill

running for the house of commons was accused by his opponent of being a braggart.
Churchill answered, "My opponent is a humble man, he is a man with much to be humble about."

Lady Astor to Churchill, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison."

Churchill, "If I were your husband I'd drink it."

"It has been said that in the course of his career Mr. Churchill has drank enough brandy to fill this room to its window sills."

Churchill, "Then as you can see gentlemen there is still much work that needs to be done."