On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
In 1846 Henry David Thoreau spent a night in the Concord jail for refusing to pay a poll tax to a government that upheld slavery and was making war on Mexico. The lecture he gave about it, published in 1849 as Resistance to Civil Government and later known as Civil Disobedience, argues that a citizen's first duty is to his conscience, that a government's majority confers no right over the individual, and that when the machine of the state demands injustice one should refuse to be its agent, whatever the cost. The essay was little noticed in his lifetime; Gandhi read it in a South African prison, and Martin Luther King read it in college. It is short, plain, and still disturbing. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the opening pages free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read On the Duty of Civil Disobedience online?
Yes. On the Duty of Civil Disobedience opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is On the Duty of Civil Disobedience free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of On the Duty of Civil Disobedience is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is On the Duty of Civil Disobedience in the public domain?
Yes. On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read On the Duty of Civil Disobedience?
About 38 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is On the Duty of Civil Disobedience?
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
