Question

why does it not cherish its wise minority? why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them? why does it always crucify christ, and excommunicate copernicus and luther, and pronounce washington and franklin rebels?

one would think, that a deliberate and practical denial of its authority was the only offence never contemplated by government; else, why has it not assigned its definite, its suitable and proportionate, penalty? if a man who has no property refuses but once to earn nine shillings for the state, he is put in prison for a period unlimited by any law that i know, and determined only by the discretion of those who placed him there; but if he should steal ninety times nine shillings from the state, he is soon permitted to go at large again.

if the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go; perchance it will wear smooth — certainly the machine will wear out. if the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, i say, break the law. let your life be a counter - friction to stop the machine. what i have to do is to see, at any rate, that i do not lend myself to the wrong which i condemn.

guiding questions
question 3 of 4
thoreau is arguing that...
a) you have to use the rules of law to create change.
b) you have to suffer in order to create change.
c) you have to disobey laws in order to create change.
d) you have to be patient in order to create change.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze Thoreau's argument from the text. Thoreau talks about when injustice requires being an agent of injustice to others, he says "break the law" and be a "counter - friction to stop the machine". Option A is wrong as he doesn't advocate using law rules. Option B is wrong as there's no mention of suffering for change. Option D is wrong as patience isn't the point. Option C matches his call to disobey laws (break the law) to create change.

Answer:

C. you have to disobey laws in order to create change.