What does Thoreau mean when he says let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine? He urges the reader to be a “counter-friction” to the machine and
not to participate in the wrong
. Thoreau then argues that working for change through government takes too much time and requires a person to waste his life.
What does counter friction mean?
Resistance also served as part of Thoreau’s metaphor comparing the government to a machine: when the machine was producing injustice, it was the duty of conscientious citizens to be “a counter friction” (i.e., a resistance) “
to stop the machine
“.
Who said let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine?
Henry David Thoreau
: On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
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.
What does all machines have their friction mean?
When Thoreau says… All machines have their friction; and possibly this does enough good to counterbalance the evil. At any rate, it is a great evil to make a stir about it. … he’s saying that all machines have a weak point (friction) –
something that counteracts their evil and works against their success
.
What is the point of the metaphor about friction in paragraph 8?
8)? Thoreau is referring to a situation in which
the “friction” of the machine becomes so great that the machine no longer functions properly, such that the machine or the government can be exploited or misused
.
What is Thoreau’s main point in Civil Disobedience?
Thoreau argued that
the government must end its unjust actions to earn the right to collect taxes from its citizens
. As long as the government commits unjust actions, he continued, conscientious individuals must choose whether to pay their taxes or to refuse to pay them and defy the government.
How can friction be overcome?
- Make the surfaces little more smoother. …
- Lubrication is another way to make a surface smoother. …
- Make the object more streamlined. …
- Reduce the Normal force acting between the surfaces in contact. …
- Reduce the contact between the surfaces, so that less number of bonds will be formed.
Does civil disobedience have to be peaceful?
Black’s Law Dictionary includes nonviolence in its definition of civil disobedience. Christian Bay’s encyclopedia article states that civil disobedience requires “carefully chosen and legitimate means”, but holds that
they do not have to be non-violent
.
What does it is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law so much as for the right mean?
It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.” Thoreau means that
before becoming “slaves” to the government’s system, we should first be men
. We should work towards living fulfilled lives and having individuality before working for the money of government.
What is the effect of friction in a machine?
Friction
reduces efficiency
because when two surfaces slide past each other, friction resists their motion, and in real machines, some input work is always used to overcome friction..
What happens in the absence of friction?
A frictional force exists when two objects come in contact with each other. It opposes motion, meaning if something is sliding on the floor, friction is the force that makes it eventually come to a stop. In a world without friction,
the object would continue to slide forever, if not acted on by another force
.
How does Thoreau characterize government consider his point’s about friction?
Thoreau then returns to the metaphor of the government-as-machine. He says that
if an injustice is part of the “necessary friction” of the “machine of government,” then it should be left alone
. Perhaps the machine will wear smooth; in any case, it will eventually wear out.
What does Thoreau use as a metaphor for government in Civil Disobedience?
Thoreau’s metaphor for the government in “Civil Disobedience” is
a machine
. Just like a machine, the government has problems that can cause it to break, like friction within its structure.
What does Thoreau mean by saying that he must not pursue his own interests while sitting upon another man’s shoulders I must get off him first?
In “Resistance to Civil Government,” what does Thoreau mean by saying that he must not pursue his own interest while “sitting upon another man’s shoulders… I must get off him first” (page 237) Thoreau means that
he must not support government actions that hurt others
.
What does Thoreau mean when he says he refuses to sit on another man’s shoulder?
15. What does Thoreau mean when he says he refuses to sit on another man’s shoulders?
He refuses to support inequality
. He refuses to benefit from injustice directed toward others.
What is the overall message of Thoreau’s solitude?
Thoreau is writing “Solitude” to persuade his audience that
living alone in close communion with nature is good for the body, mind, and soul
. Using simile, Thoreau compares his serenity to a lake’s calm surface and compares the friendliness he feels from Nature to an atmosphere that sustains him.
What did Thoreau believe?
He was a well-known advocate of transcendentalism, or the belief in
the inherent goodness of people and nature, making a virtue of self-reliance
. In his essay … On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Thoreau once wrote “That government is best which governs not at all”.
How do we use friction in everyday life?
- Driving of a a vehicle on a surface.
- Applying brakes to stop a moving vehicle.
- Skating.
- Walking on the road.
- Writing on notebook/ blackboard.
- Flying of aeroplanes.
- Drilling a nail into wall.
- Sliding on a garden slide.
What happens if we do not reduce friction in machines?
Firstly, if we do not reduce friction, we have to apply more power to complete a particular work and this results in
wastage of energy
. Then the wastage of energy due to friction in terms of heat can cause mechanical damage to our system.
How do you overcome the effect of friction in machine parts?
Reducing Friction
There are several ways to reduce friction:
The use of bearing surfaces that are themselves sacrificial
, such as low shear materials, of which lead/copper journal bearings are an example. Replace sliding friction with rolling element friction, such as with the use of rolling element bearings.
Is civil disobedience still used today?
Some people may think that civil disobedience is a thing of the past, a kind of action limited to historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is not true;
Acts of civil disobedience are happening presently all around the world
.
Does civil disobedience work today?
Modern Acts of Civil Disobedience.
Many individuals and groups use acts of civil disobedience to challenge modern human rights concerns, such as student loan debt, racially motivated killings, and climate change
. Successful acts serve as inspiration as do failed civil disobedience examples.
What is the main theme of civil disobedience?
In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau’s basic premise is that
a higher law than civil law demands the obedience of the individual
. Human law and government are subordinate. In cases where the two are at odds with one another, the individual must follow his conscience and, if necessary, disregard human law.
What are the main ideas of Thoreau’s resistance to civil government?
Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience espouses
the need to prioritize one’s conscience over the dictates of laws
. It criticizes American social institutions and policies, most prominently slavery and the Mexican-American War.
What kind of government does Thoreau think would be most ethical and moral?
Thoreau begins Civil Disobedience by saying that he agrees with the motto, “That
government is best which governs least
.” Indeed, he says, men will someday be able to have a government that does not govern at all. As it is, government rarely proves useful or efficient.
Why does Thoreau argue it is not enough to just think a law is immoral?
Thoreau argues that
because the government’s priorities are so unjust
, people should not follow the government’s laws without questioning whether such laws actually serve a just purpose.
What is the effect of friction on the life span of machines?
Friction
reduces efficiency
because when two surfaces slide past each other, friction resists their motion, and in real machines, some input work is always used to overcome friction.
How much work is needed to overcome friction in a machine depends on the machines?
Friction is the force that opposes motion between any surfaces that are touching. All machines involve motion, so they all have friction. How much work is needed to overcome friction in a machine depends on the
machine’s efficiency
.
What would happen in the absence of friction support your answer with three examples?
If there is no friction, then
most of the tasks such as walking on the road, writing on a board, sliding off the table, etc., would become difficult
. Therefore, friction is one of the important forces that is needed for a smooth life.
How is friction considered undesirable for machines?
Friction between moving parts of machines, however, is undesirable.
It wastes energy that could otherwise be used to perform work, produces heat, and can cause considerable wear
. Friction can never be entirely eliminated, but it can be reduced by smoothing sliding surfaces or applying a lubricant such as oil.
Can we walk without friction?
Without friction between our feet and the ground, walking would be impossible
. Without friction between our feet and the ground, walking would be impossible.
What is importance of friction?
Friction can be a useful force because it
prevents our shoes slipping on the pavement when we walk and stops car tyres skidding on the road
. When you walk, friction is caused between the tread on shoes and the ground. This friction acts to grip the ground and prevent sliding. Sometimes we want to reduce friction.
What does Thoreau mean by the machine?
Thoreau
compares government to a “machine” in which “friction” or tension is inevitable
. Thoreau suggests that this friction is not ordinarily sufficient cause for a revolution because “[a]ll machines have their friction” and “it is a great evil to make a stir about it” (part 1, par.
What does all machines have their friction mean?
When Thoreau says… All machines have their friction; and possibly this does enough good to counterbalance the evil. At any rate, it is a great evil to make a stir about it. … he’s saying that all machines have a weak point (friction) –
something that counteracts their evil and works against their success
.
What are the two government policies Thoreau most objects to explain his objection?
The two government policies Thoreau most objects to is
the creation of the Fugitive Slave act and the reasons of starting the Mexican war
.
Why does Thoreau refer to Civil Disobedience as a duty?
Thoreau refers to civil disobedience as not simply a right, but as a duty merely
because individuals are responsible for the actions taken by the government
. The government is only what the people let it be, and it can be corrupted and abused if men allow it be.
