government which imprisons any unjustly the just man s place is prison So prison proves the protest is serious and sincere Refusal exposes the State s weakness before conscience Selective Payment He pays the highway tax for neighbors good Roads help all and do not fund oppression But broad state taxes backed slavery and war He insists Cast your whole vote your whole influence Withholding taxes is his full practical vote Thus payment differs by purpose and moral effect Peaceable Pressure Thoreau advocates for a calm collective refusal of taxes He believes many honest refusals could stop slavery He calls this a peaceful bloodless revolution He says action beats passive ballots and weak wishes Real change needs sacrifice not petitions or symbols In short Thoreau s tax view is clear and consistent Pay for shared goods refuse for shared wrongs Let conscience lead the purse and the risk Thus justice rises and empty loyalty fades