Thoreau begins with a quote from Thomas Jefferson–"That government is best which governs least." In what other ways is Thoreau's thinking similar to the thinking of those who signed the Declaration of Independence? Can you see any ways in which his thinki

The quote from Thomas Jefferson cited above and in the text of Civil Disobedience, is in my opinion, where the similarites between Thoreau and the Founders began and ended. Note, my opinion on this is wholly based upon Thoreau's vision of a utopia with no government and his subsequent statement in context, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe, — "That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have."