One idea of Henry David Thoreau that was adopted by 20th century leaders of great social change movements was his concept of civil disobedience. Thoreau believed that individuals have a moral obligation to resist unjust laws or government actions through peaceful nonviolent resistance, even if it means breaking the law. This idea was embraced by leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela, who all led successful movements for social change through nonviolent civil disobedience. They were inspired by Thoreau's belief in standing up for one's principles and using nonviolent means to bring about lasting change in society.
