Question

Select the correct text in the passage.

Which two parts of this except from Henry David Thoreau's essay "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" emphasize the common romantic theme that
the individual has greater value than society or government?
After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to
rule, is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the
strongest. But a government in which the majority rules in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it. Can there not be
a government in which majorities do not virtually decide right and wrong, but conscience?-in which majorities decide only those questions to which
the rule of expediency is applicable? Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has
every man a conscience, then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward.

Answer 1

The statements from Thoreau's essay that emphasize the individual's value over society or government are his assertion that justice cannot be solely determined by the majority, and his rhetorical questions about the role of individual conscience versus legislative power.

Step-by-step explanation:

To identify the parts of the excerpt from Henry David Thoreau's essay "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" that emphasize the common romantic theme that the individual has greater value than society or government, we look for statements reflecting Thoreau's valuation of personal conscience and individual action over the collective will of society or the dictates of government.

One such statement is "But a government in which the majority rules in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it." This underlines the idea that justice is not always served by the will of the majority, indicating a deeper value in the individual sense of justice over societal determination.

Another key statement is "Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience, then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward." Here, Thoreau argues that personal conscience should not be subordinate to laws or legislators, reinforcing the romantic theme that individual morals and beliefs are more important than the mechanisms of society or government. These parts of the text highlight the sentiment that individual freedom and moral autonomy outweigh any societal or governmental demands or expectations.

Answer 2

The two parts that emphasize the common theme of valuing the individual over society or government are: the idea that majority rule does not guarantee justice and the importance of individual conscience and values.

Step-by-step explanation:

The two parts of the excerpt from Henry David Thoreau's essay "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" that emphasize the common romantic theme that the individual has greater value than society or government are:

1. "But a government in which the majority rules in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it." This part emphasizes the idea that a government driven by majority rule may not always be just and that individuals value justice over the decisions made by the majority.
2. "Why has every man a conscience, then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward." This part highlights the importance of individual conscience and the belief that individuals should prioritize their own values and beliefs over being subjects of a government or society.

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