A very few—as heroes, patriots, martyrs, reformers in the great sense, and men—serve the state with their consciences also, and so necessarily resist it for the most part; and they are commonly treated as enemies by it.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Henry David Thoreau, best known for his quote, "The Mass of Men Lead Lives of Quiet Desperation," was also highly opinionated about politics and politicians. His work "Civil Disobedience" is well worth reading for those who have an interest in that arena.

Thoreau takes much study and thought to adequately "dig into" the intrinsic meaning of his words. One cannot simply touch the surface with Thoreau, without being consumed by all the great words written by the great thinker and philosopher.

Thank you Daemon for bringing Thoreau to us this day!

Perhaps, it would be best to know the reasons behind the statement made by Thoreau. "Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience) is an essay by American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau that was first published in 1849. In it, Thoreau argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences, and that they have a duty to avoid allowing such acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice. Thoreau was motivated in part by his disgust with slavery and the Mexican–American War."

Being vehemently opposed to anything, including Government, that would lead to others having control of thought, would seem to me to be the point of all of this.

I could not agree more. All one need do is watch TV, with all its commercials, to know that mind control is fully at work. That is precisely why my family has given the TV up, except for what WE wish to watch. Not what THEY want us to watch.

Great comment Miriam...thanks!

If you really pay attention you will see that Hollywood is tied in with the government and if you really want an education do some research on the movie Wizard of Oz.