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schemes which he entertained when he was poor。 Christ answered the
Herodians according to their condition。 〃Show me the
tribute…money；〃 said he； and one took a penny out of his pocket；
if you use money which has the image of Caesar on it； and which
he has made current and valuable； that is； if you are men of the
State； and gladly enjoy the advantages of Caesar's government； then
pay him back some of his own when he demands it； 〃Render therefore
to Caesar that which is Caesar's； and to God those things which are
God's〃 leaving them no wiser than before as to which was which；
for they did not wish to know。
When I converse with the freest of my neighbors； I perceive
that； whatever they may say about the magnitude and seriousness of
the question； and their regard for the public tranquillity； the long
and the short of the matter is； that they cannot spare the
protection of the existing government； and they dread the
consequences to their property and families of disobedience to it。
For my own part； I should not like to think that I ever rely on the
protection of the State。 But； if I deny the authority of the State
when it presents its tax…bill； it will soon take and waste all my
property； and so harass me and my children without end。 This is
hard。 This makes it impossible for a man to live honestly； and at
the same time comfortably in outward respects。 It will not be worth
the while to accumulate property； that would be sure to go again。
You must hire or squat somewhere； and raise but a small crop； and
eat that soon。 You must live within yourself； and depend upon
yourself always tucked up and ready for a start； and not have many
affairs。 A man may grow rich in Turkey even； if he will be in all
respects a good subject of the Turkish government。 Confucius said；
〃If a state is governed by the principles of reason； poverty and
misery are subjects of shame； if a state is not governed by the
principles of reason； riches and honors are the subjects of shame。〃
No： until I want the protection of Massachusetts to be extended to
me in some distant Southern port； where my liberty is endangered； or
until I am bent solely on building up an estate at home by peaceful
enterprise； I can afford to refuse allegiance to Massachusetts； and
her right to my property and life。 It costs me less in every sense
to incur the penalty of disobedience to the State than it would to
obey。 I should feel as if I were worth less in that case。
Some years ago； the State met me in behalf of the Church； and
commanded me to pay a certain sum toward the support of a clergyman
whose preaching my father attended； but never I myself。 〃Pay；〃 it
said； 〃or be locked up in the jail。〃 I declined to pay。 But；
unfortunately； another man saw fit to pay it。 I did not see why the
schoolmaster should be taxed to support the priest； and not the
priest the schoolmaster： for I was not the State's schoolmaster； but
I supported myself by voluntary subscription。 I did not see why the
lyceum should not present its tax…bill； and have the State to back
its demand； as well as the Church。 However； at the request of the
selectmen； I condescended to make some such statement as this in
writing： 〃Know all men by these presents； that I； Henry Thoreau；
do not wish to be regarded as a member of any incorporated society
which I have not joined。〃 This I gave to the town clerk； and he has
it。 The State； having thus learned that I did not wish to be
regarded as a member of that church； has never made a like demand on
me since； though it said that it must adhere to its original
presumption that time。 If I had known how to name them； I should
then have signed off in detail from all the societies which I never
signed on to； but I did not know where to find a complete list。
I have paid no poll…tax for six years。 I was put into a jail
once on this account； for one night； and； as I stood considering the
walls of solid stone； two or three feet thick； the door of wood and
iron； a foot thick； and the iron grating which strained the light； I
could not help being struck with the foolishness of that institution
which treated me as if I were mere flesh and blood and bones； to be
locked up。 I wondered that it should have concluded at length that
this was the best use it could put me to； and had never thought to
avail itself of my services in some way。 I saw that； if there was a
wall of stone between me and my townsmen； there was a still more
difficult one to climb or break through； before they could get to be
as free as I was。 I did not for a moment feel confined； and the
walls seemed a great waste of stone and mortar。 I felt as if I
alone of all my townsmen had paid my tax。 They plainly did not know
how to treat me； but behaved like persons who are underbred。 In
every threat and in every compliment there was a blunder； for they
thought that my chief desire was to stand the other side of that
stone wall。 I could not but smile to see how industriously they
locked the door on my meditations； which followed them out again
without let or hindrance； and they were really all that was
dangerous。 As they could not reach me； they had resolved to punish
my body； just as boys； if they cannot come at some person against
whom they have a spite； will abuse his dog。 I saw that the State
was half…witted； that it was timid as a lone woman with her silver
spoons； and that it did not know its friends from its foes； and I
lost all my remaining respect for it； and pitied it。
Thus the State never intentionally confronts a man's sense；
intellectual or moral； but only his body； his senses。 It is not
armed with superior wit or honesty； but with superior physical
strength。 I was not born to be forced。 I will breathe after my own
fashion。 Let us see who is the strongest。 What force has a
multitude？ They only can force me who obey a higher law than I。
They force me to become like themselves。 I do not hear of men being
forced to have this way or that by masses of men。 What sort of life
were that to live？ When I meet a government which says to me； 〃Your
money or your life；〃 why should I be in haste to give it my money？
It may be in a great strait； and not know what to do： I cannot help
that。 It must help itself； do as I do。 It is not worth the while
to snivel about it。 I am not responsible for the successful working
of the machinery of society。 I am not the son of the engineer。 I
perceive that； when an acorn and a chestnut fall side by side； the
one does not remain inert to make way for the other； but both obey
their own laws； and spring and grow and flourish as best they can；
till one； perchance； overshadows and destroys the other。 If a plant
cannot live according to its nature； it dies； and so a man。
The night in prison was novel and interesting enough。 The
prisoners in their shirt…sleeves were enjoying a chat and the
evening air in the doorway； when I entered。 But the jail