A wise man will not leave the right to the…

A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men. When the majority shall at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will then be the only slaves. Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his own freedom by his vote.

Sourced, Civil Disobedience
(1849)

Other Henry David Thoreau Quotes

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Let us consider the way in which we spend our lives. - View Quote Details on I will not talk about people a thousand miles off,…
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