"Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves"

Henry David Thoreau's quote suggests that in order to achieve real liberty, one need to want to disobey. He implies that those who are loyal are basically slaves, as they are unable to make their own choices and are instead following the orders of someone else. This quote talks to the concept of civil disobedience, which Thoreau himself practiced in his own life. He thought that it was necessary to stand up for what one believes in, even if it suggests going against the law or the status quo. By doing so, one can develop a more simply and fair society. Thoreau's quote is a suggestion that real liberty is only possible when one wants to decide and challenge the existing power structures. It is only through disobedience that we can produce a more fair and simply society.