Henry David Thoreau Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.
What is called resignation is confirmed desperation."

by:	Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American author, poet, philosopher, polymath, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and transcendentalist
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Categories:	Apathy, Desperation
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Reader comments about this quote:

Desperation = Fear? If so, Fear naturally turns to Anger. -- J Carlton, Calgary
J Carlton, I feel we have passed fear and are now in the ANGER stage. -- cal, lewisville, tx
-- Mike, Norwalk
When faced with the overwhelming evidence of governmental corruption of the very laws intended to keep the people safe from their fellow citizens in office, the common man is left with two choices: either fight or submit. Those that choose to stand up for their rights face not only their oppressors but all those that have also submitted in desperation. At least in America there are still enough 'radicals' who are not content with submission. -- E Archer, NYC
Those of government and other false religion / propaganda centers have created such desperation that they are beginning to reap what they have sewn. The natural fear, anger, and insanity that derives from extinguishing inalienable rights, personal integrity, natural law and justice is beginning to show its ugly head. It is extremely sad that the crazy left is killing its own but now, the socialists (progressive, communist, fascist, left, right etc.) are even trying to separate and protect, through legislation, their acts from the eventual consequences thereof. -- Mike, Norwalk
Folk's stop blaming the government and corporations - it is us where the corruption begins. Government, corporations, and the wealthy elite are just a manifestation of our ethics and morals. As George Carlin said "Where do you think these folks come from" they come from our church's, our families, the kitchens and living rooms of America, not from some matrix or alien pod. The last bit was inspired by GC. -- RBESRQ
STAY SANE............ -- Kimo, Lahaina
To whom the bell tolls! It tolls for thee and me. Many men are resigned to the false thought, "That this is the way it is, has been, and shall be for ever after. No room for hope nor trust. After all, have we not for years and yearsattemted to change people, places and things to our likings. For their own good of course. Of course the world would prosper too. Lord knows how I tried but I finally gave up. Tired, frustrated, alone and guilt ridden. I had failed myself and society. I accepted my destiny like a man and started to wither away. I must say it never occured to me that the only thing I could change was my self. I tried that also to no avail. When I started asking God to help me, I started to change. How ever so slow it was, it was change. Soon I became God conscious that God was doing for me what I could never have done for myself. I had been born in water, but now I was born in the Holy Spirit. The Result? :FREE AT LAST" -- Anonymous
My fellow countrymen, do not throw in the resignation of your rights, do not let liberty die, do not turn your back on justice. All men lead desperate lives. We are all clinging to the pursuit of happyness, to prosperity, to freedom, to what we believe is right. The best avenues for each of us to reach this goal are liberty and justice. In desperate times when freedom is elluding our grasp, every citizen has two choices, acceptance or defiance; roll with the punches or stand and throw a few of your own; bow down to throne and kiss the feet of the tyrant, or stand and look him in the eye. It is our duty to our fellow countrymen and to God to stand and fight for liberty and justice. If we don't, if we allow these sacred founding principles to die, our children will be born wearing the chains of tyranny. If this occurs, than may the future generations forget we ever existed and may God have mercy on our souls. -- Publius
It is God and the myths that perpetuate these ridiculous stories that are the reason we have wars, fear, misery, and hatred of each other. -- RBESRQ

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