Smartyfair
Can there not be a government in which the majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?—in which majorities decide only those questions to which the rule of expediency is applicable?

Where these words come from

How sure this is
95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up
Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience); source text line 90
Work
Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience); source text line 90
Sources checked
  • gutenberg.orgChecked using manual, 19 October 2026Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience); source text line 90

Nothing made from these words yet — Storyfaire is where they get made.

More from Henry David Thoreau

See all

More inspiration

See all

Leave without saving?

You have a change that hasn’t been saved yet. Clicking out of the box saves it — closing now throws that change away.