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"There are thousands who... sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do, and do nothing" (Thoreau 1021-1022).

How can we expect change without reform? It's like having a fever and expecting it to pass by without taking any form of medication to treat it. Many people will acknowledge a flaw in a system, yet shrug their shoulders and wait for someone else to fix the problem. The issue is, if everyone has this type of mindset, no improvement would occur. In his piece titled On the Duty of Civil Disobedience, Thoreau criticizes the people who disagree with the government but choose to remain silent until the majority of people do something about an issue. "Stand up for what you believe in, even if you're standing alone" is a quote that everyone has heard of at one point or another. If all of your friends were being mean to an individual, would you stand back and stay silent, pretending to have no idea what's going on? Or would you take a chance and do what's right? Are you a leader or a follower?

I think that Thoreau's criticism is worth taking into consideration, given the fact that in today's society, we all seem to be slaves of the matrix. Although our society seems to be more educated on the flaws of the government than previous generations, the majority of us still ignore the problems we are faced with and act as if it has nothing to do with us. No matter the situation, I believe that we can all contribute to make a difference, whether that may be a simple retweet on Twitter to raise awareness of an issue, or donating a few dollars to a specific cause, or starting an organization for a cause, it is important to realize that our voices are not too quiet to be heard. Even if you think your contribution is too little to make a difference, understand that progress takes time, and is a gradual process. Be a leader, not a follower.