'Civil Disobedience' (1849) is an essay by American poet, essayist, and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau, who is best known for his book 'Walden' (1854).In this classic essay, Thoreau famously argues that citizens should not allow their government to overrule their consciences, arguing that their compliance enables governments to make them the agents of injustice. A lifelong abolitionist, Thoreau was motivated to write this essay by his contempt for slavery and the plight of John Brown. His work went on to influence the political thoughts and actions of both Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.This pioneering, thought-provoking classic, remains as relevant today as when it was first written.