Phan 1

Ethan Phan

Ms. Yeaton

English 10 Pre-AP

23 April 2018

DCQ Essay

“The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think

right” - Henry David Thorean. This quote from Henry David Thorean means that the only thing a

person absolutely must do in life is to follow their moral compass to do the right thing. Thorean’s

claim that all a person must do is what they believe to be is right is correct because sometimes

laws, society, and even your peers and elders are not correct these are supported by numerous

numerous examples throughout history, current events, and media.

Through history there has been a multitude of examples where people follow their moral

compasses and went against and broke laws because they some them as not correct and it has

resulted in great success and fortune. An example of this is a great historical event that created

current day America, the American Revolution. The American citizens at the time were being

treated poorly so they followed their morale compasses and stood up for what was right even

though it went against the law. They threw Great Britain's rule out of America and fought for

what they believed was right even at the risk of being convicted of crimes. If this revolution

resulted in the creation of one of the greatest nations in the world, then Thorean’s claim must be

correct.
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There are times when even society is not correct which is supported through current

events that have occured. One of these current events happened when a 32 year-old woman

named Heather Heyer was killed in Charlottesville on August 12, 2017 for standing up against

neo-Nazi’s. Although she has perished her death and protesting hasn’t gone in vain and has

caused a great impact on America’s views on certain issues. This shows that one person standing

up for what they believe to be right can cause great change, which is exactly what Thorean is

stating in his quote. Society is not always right so a person have to speak their opinion no matter

what even if it means going against what a person’s parents say.

Even if a person’s own parents do not agree with what they believe is right they should

still continue on because all that matters is a person’s own belief and morales. An example of

this is in the 2009 film of ​Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs ​where the main character Flint

Lockwood goes against his father’s wishes and continues on his path and dreams of inventing.

After following his dreams he eventually meets the girl of his dreams and creates a crazy

invention. This shows that if a person follows what they believe to be right leads to success and

prosperous results which is what Thorean is stating in his quote.

The quote “The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I

think right” from Henry David Thorean is absolutely correct becausesometimes laws, society,

and even your peers and elders are not correct. It only takes one person standing up for their

beliefs to create great change.

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Work Cited

History.com Staff. “Revolutionary War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2009,

​www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history​.

Silverman, Ellie, and Michael Laris. “Charlottesville Victim: 'She Was There Standing up for

What Was Right'.” ​The Washington Post​, WP Company, 13 Aug. 2017,

www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/charlottesville-victim-she-was-there-standi

ng-up-for-what-was-right/2017/08/13/00d6b034-8035-11e7-b359-15a3617c767b_story.h

tml?noredirect=on&utm_term=.45be31f6421b​.

"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)." IMDb. ​https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844471/​.