Henry David Thoreau

Definition

Henry David Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, and philosopher in the 19th century. He is best known for his book "Walden," a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay "Civil Disobedience," an argument for disobedience to an unjust state.

Analogy

Think of Thoreau as a minimalist lifestyle blogger of his time. Just like how today's bloggers might advocate for decluttering your home or going vegan, Thoreau promoted living simply and being self-reliant.

Related terms

Transcendentalism: A philosophical movement in the mid-19th century that emphasized intuition and the individual conscience. Thoreau was a key figure in this movement.

Ralph Waldo Emerson: An American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was a close friend of Thoreau.

Abolitionism: The movement to end slavery. This is related because Thoreau was deeply involved in this cause; his essay "Civil Disobedience" was partly inspired by his opposition to slavery.