Thoreau was jailed for refusing to pay a poll tax, protesting against the Mexican War and slavery. In "Civil Disobedience," he criticizes the government for overreach and corruption, believing it manipulates the masses and operates like a machine. Thoreau argues that individuals must challenge unjust laws and not blindly serve the state, showcasing civil disobedience as a moral duty.

Thoreau implies that most men serve the state as unthinking machines, without exercising moral judgment, akin to lifeless objects like wood. He criticizes this blind obedience to government directives, using the example of soldiers in the Mexican-American War. Thoreau believes true "men" are those few who think independently and resist governmental actions when they are unjust, engaging in civil disobedience to uphold moral principles.

Thoreau views the voting populace with disdain, equating voting to gambling and seeing it as an ineffective way to bring about change. He argues that merely voting is a passive act, expressing weak desires without taking real action. Thoreau believes true change requires direct, individual effort rather than relying on government or the majority's decisions, as outlined in his works like Civil Disobedience and "Slavery in Massachusetts."

Thoreau, in "Civil Disobedience," critiques majority rule, arguing that conscience should guide decisions on right and wrong, not just expediency. He questions whether citizens should submit their conscience to legislators, suggesting that a government should rule through conscience rather than majority. Thoreau believes majority rule often neglects minority voices and supports injustices like slavery, urging a government based on ethical principles rather than mere majority opinion.

Thoreau means that individuals should act according to their conscience to resist unjust government actions, effectively becoming the "counter-friction" to halt the government's harmful practices. He argues that governments, like machines, often perpetuate injustice, and it is the duty of morally-minded individuals to practice civil disobedience to prompt change, even if it means facing consequences like imprisonment.

Thoreau argues that the best government is one that "gets out of its own way" by minimizing interference and aligning closely with the people's will. He believes governments inherently become corrupt and disconnected from the populace they serve. Echoing Jefferson, Thoreau asserts that minimal governance allows individuals to achieve more, as exemplified by American progress despite governmental obstacles. He cites the Mexican War as an instance where government acted against public consent, manipulated by a few individuals.

In "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau uses "expedient" to describe government as a means to an end, but often ineffective or harmful. He argues that governments should serve specific purposes without overreaching, as overreach can lead to negative consequences. Thoreau criticizes government for prioritizing convenience over justice, often failing to serve individuals adequately.

The quote from Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" criticizes government inefficiency, suggesting that it often hinders progress more than it helps. Thoreau argues that government involvement does not advance education, commerce, or westward expansion, asserting that less interference would empower citizens to achieve more. He views government as an unnecessary obstacle rather than a facilitator of freedom and progress, emphasizing individual action over governmental control. Thoreau's ideas influenced figures like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Thoreau's discussion of his shoes and leading a huckleberry party after his release from jail highlights his view of the experience as an ordinary part of his week, not a significant or life-changing event. Living near Walden Pond, his arrest for not paying a poll tax was a minor interruption, resolved when his aunt paid the tax. However, the incident later inspired Thoreau to write about civil disobedience, which gained symbolic significance over time.

Thoreau criticizes majority rule for prioritizing numbers over morality, arguing that it does not necessarily lead to justice. He believes that majority rule is based on might rather than right, which can endanger individual rights. In "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau asserts the obligation to follow one's conscience over the law, as laws can be unjust. He emphasizes that individuals should act according to what they believe is right, not merely what is legal or supported by the majority.