Passage 047 · 1849
Civil Disobedience
Main effectThrough embedded quotations, parallel syntax, and logical progression markers, Thoreau creates argument that makes anarchism seem like the inevitable conclusion of accepting limited government. The syntax performs the logic: if A (governs least), then B (governs not at all) follows naturally. The parallel structures suggest these aren't different philosophies but degrees of the same principle. Form IS argument—syntax as political philosophy made grammatically inevitable.
Device index
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Tropes
Reference to another text or saying.
Arrangement from least to most intense.
Direct citation of others' words.
No words highlightedSchemes
Similar grammatical structures.
No words highlightedSyntax
"I heartily accept the motto"—subject-adverb-verb-object structure with emphatic adverb "heartily." The syntax makes acceptance enthusiastic, not grudging. First person "I" makes this personal testimony.
"That government is best which governs least"—the quoted motto uses relative clause structure. The syntax within quotation is balanced: superlative (best) paired with comparative (least). The anaphoric "That government" creates formal, almost proverbial tone.
"and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically"—the coordinating conjunction adds Thoreau's own amendment. The modal "should like" is polite but firm.
"see it acted up to"—uses passive voice (the motto acted upon, not actors). The prepositional phrase "up to" creates idiom of fulfillment. The comparative adverbs "more rapidly and systematically" suggest current action is too slow, unsystematic. The syntax through comparison implies progress but inadequate progress.
"Carried out"—this past participle without subject or auxiliary creates absolute construction. It's compressed syntax: [If it is] carried out...
"it finally amounts to this"—the present tense "amounts" suggests inevitable result. The syntax through "finally" and "amounts" makes the conclusion seem logical, mathematical even. The demonstrative pronoun "this" creates suspense—we wait for what it amounts to.
"which also I believe"—the relative clause with parenthetical "also" adds personal endorsement. The syntax places "I believe" within the relative clause rather than main sentence, making it seem incidental but significant. The adverb "also" suggests: not only do others believe this (implied), but I do too.
"That government is best which governs not at all"—exact syntactic parallel to first motto, with only the final phrase changed: "least" becomes "not at all." This syntactic parallelism with semantic escalation is the passage's rhetorical power. The form stays same; only the degree changes. This makes anarchism seem like simple mathematical progression.
Close reading
1Close Reading
Opening Declarative
"I heartily accept the motto"—subject-adverb-verb-object structure with emphatic adverb "heartily." The syntax makes acceptance enthusiastic, not grudging. First person "I" makes this personal testimony.
Embedded Quotation
"That government is best which governs least"—the quoted motto uses relative clause structure. The syntax within quotation is balanced: superlative (best) paired with comparative (least).
The anaphoric "That government" creates formal, almost proverbial tone.
Compound Sentence
"and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically"—the coordinating conjunction adds Thoreau's own amendment. The modal "should like" is polite but firm.
Passive Construction
"see it acted up to"—uses passive voice (the motto acted upon, not actors). The prepositional phrase "up to" creates idiom of fulfillment.
The comparative adverbs "more rapidly and systematically" suggest current action is too slow, unsystematic. The syntax through comparison implies progress but inadequate progress.
Participial Opening
"Carried out"—this past participle without subject or auxiliary creates absolute construction. It's compressed syntax: [If it is] carried out...
Final Result
"it finally amounts to this"—the present tense "amounts" suggests inevitable result. The syntax through "finally" and "amounts" makes the conclusion seem logical, mathematical even.
The demonstrative pronoun "this" creates suspense—we wait for what it amounts to.
Parenthetical Belief
"which also I believe"—the relative clause with parenthetical "also" adds personal endorsement. The syntax places "I believe" within the relative clause rather than main sentence, making it seem incidental but significant.
The adverb "also" suggests: not only do others believe this (implied), but I do too.
Second Quotation
"That government is best which governs not at all"—exact syntactic parallel to first motto, with only the final phrase changed: "least" becomes "not at all."
This syntactic parallelism with semantic escalation is the passage's rhetorical power. The form stays same; only the degree changes. This makes anarchism seem like simple mathematical progression.
Stylistic Effect
Through embedded quotations, parallel syntax, and logical progression markers, Thoreau creates argument that makes anarchism seem like the inevitable conclusion of accepting limited government. The syntax performs the logic: if A (governs least), then B (governs not at all) follows naturally. The parallel structures suggest these aren't different philosophies but degrees of the same principle. Form IS argument—syntax as political philosophy made grammatically inevitable.