"...A little rebellion now and then is a good thing...It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government." Thomas Jefferson Thoreau, a transcendentalist from the mid 19th century and Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights movement leader of a century later both believed the necessity of medicine for government. Although they showed disagreement of opinion on issues regarding voting, both writers agreed on the necessity to reform the government and the means of accomplishing it. In King"s Letter from Birmingham Jail and Thoreau"s Civil Disobedience, both agreed on injustice of majority to rule over minority, both resisted...
then it was justified. Opposed to his passive resistance, he also justified bloodshed as he stated "But even suppose blood should flow. Is there not a sort of blood shed when the conscience is wounded?" 1:1432. As for improvements to government, he believed "That government is best which governs not at all" 1:1425. Thoreau"s writing is vague, and mostly an appeal to the intellect, which sharply contrasted with the writing of King, an appeal to the emotion of the readers. Although both writing made similar points, they are also a sharp contrast of the other and undoubtedly very unique.