Beginning of Essay
I have heard it said that the pen is mightier than the sword, but can mere written words change the course of history? Henry David Thoreau did nothing to directly change the course of history, but his words did influence others who did change the course of histor ....

Middle of Essay
.... in Concord. In Walden Thoreau wrote, “Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” Thoreau always did march to a different drummer. “The Con-cord community, already scandalized by Thoreau’s unconven-tional way of life, ridiculed his lack of ambition and material success. However, Thoreau flourished with Emerson as his mentor. He kept an extensive journal and became an avid reader of Hindu scripture.” (Twentieth p346) Gandhi ....