# data[].attributes.headline
"I was put into jail as I was going to the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended."

# data[].attributes.subject
"I was put into jail as I was going to the shoemaker's to get a shoe which was mended."

# data[].attributes.body
Thoreau uses this example to highlight how abrupt and suddenly the government can imprison an individual. Through using this example, Thoreau emphasizes the corruptibility of large institutions such as the federal government and churches because they enforce unfair taxes upon the people. This excerpt highlights Thoreau's transcendentalist views because he describes the contrast between large institutions and nature, as well as the spontaneity of imprisonment and spontaneity of the government's punishments.

# data[].attributes.headline
"This may be to judge my neighbors harshly;for I believe that many of the are not aware that they have such an institution as the jail in the jail in their village."

# data[].attributes.subject
"This may be to judge my neighbors harshly;for I believe that many of the are not aware that they have such an institution as the jail in the jail in their village."

# data[].attributes.body
Here Thoreau uses the structure of his sentence to defend his statements and shield his audience from any offence. Thoreau knows that in order to coax citizens away from the institutions they trust he must offer them the same amount of comfort they currently enjoy. While attacking institutions Thoreau understands that he cannot blame the citizens for their contempt in institutions, thus he makes every effort to show that the citizens are not at fault, rather the institutions have forced them into their contempt state. This is done in the structure of this statement.

# data[].attributes.headline
"I could not help being struck with the foolishness of that institution which treated me as if I were mere flesh and blood and bones"

# data[].attributes.subject
"I could not help being struck with the foolishness of that institution which treated me as if I were mere flesh and blood and bones"

# data[].attributes.body
He sees the government as foolish and doesn't really understand how it could be effective. The government isn't smart enough to convince him to follow their ideas, they go straight to trying to hurt him physically. He sees that they don't want to convince people, it is the government's way or the highway. He sees how this is corrupt and can corrupt individuals.

# data[].attributes.headline
"The rooms were whitewashed once a month; and this one, at least, was the whitest, most simply furnished, and probably the neatest apartment in town."

# data[].attributes.subject
"The rooms were whitewashed once a month; and this one, at least, was the whitest, most simply furnished, and probably the neatest apartment in town."

# data[].attributes.body
Thoreau's use of imagery in this segment emphasizes the stark contrast between large government institutions and nature. This highlights his transcendentalist views and how much difference there is between government institutions than a "state of nature." Thoreau's use of imagery also adds to the negative connotation attached to government because he describes a setting that is unnatural clean and essentially the antithesis of transcendentalism.

# data[].attributes.headline
"This is one of its peculiar institutions"

# data[].attributes.subject
"This is one of its peculiar institutions"

# data[].attributes.body
Adjectives such as peculiar are used by Thoreau in order to show of strange and distant the institutions seem to him. This is done to emphasize his confusion with the institutions society has been contempt in trusting. By showing confusion Thoreau makes his audience view him as and objective perspective which is able create doubt in the trust between citizens and the institutions which they trust.

# data[].attributes.headline
"the state met me in behalf of the Church, and commanded me to pay a certain sum toward the support of a clergyman whose preaching my father attended, but never I myself"

# data[].attributes.subject
"the state met me in behalf of the Church, and commanded me to pay a certain sum toward the support of a clergyman whose preaching my father attended, but never I myself"

# data[].attributes.body
He didn't want to pay the church cause he didn't attend the church. I think it is unusual during this time for a person not to go to church. We can see he doesn't attend church since he believes organized religion corrupts individuals. He doesn't want to have to contribute to something that he thinks does bad things. It would be like him paying taxes to the government and is advocating that you need to take action against institutions you don't believe in.

# data[].attributes.headline
"I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest. What force has has a magnitude? They only can force me who obey a higher law than I."

# data[].attributes.subject
"I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest. What force has has a magnitude? They only can force me who obey a higher law than I."

# data[].attributes.body
Here, Thoreau sets up his argument by posing a challenge of sorts to the government and making the statement that the power of a virtuous individual is far greater than that of the federal government. Thoreau's use of this anecdote also emphasized his cynical views of the government and how their power does not compare to those of nature. This example highlights Thoreau's transcendentalist beliefs because he clearly views government in a cynical manner.

# data[].attributes.headline
"They force me to become like themselves"

# data[].attributes.subject
"They force me to become like themselves"

# data[].attributes.body
Here Thoreau is speaking about how the government has to resort to enforcing things physically since they cannot change the minds of the people. This shows his disapproval of the government and how they try to make everyone think the same making them corrupt.

# data[].attributes.body
Thoreau constantly uses the term "The State", rather than specifically addressing the institutions which he has interacted with. When talking through his reasoning this makes sense, because it addresses all institutions at once. However even when addressing institution in his stories Thoreau uses this term in order to generalize his experience with organized politics or religion, and allow them to connect to his audience.