When it comes to how Henry David Thoreau chooses the audience for his texts, many agree that the reasoning involved the writer's desire to achieve results rather than to convince. an audience. However, when this agreement ends, the question arises as to why Thoreau ignores people who support the Mexican-American War and slavery and instead focuses on those who protest these issues. His writing philosophy in the essays "Civil Disobedience" and "Economy" shows his favoritism toward the idea that individuals need the freedom to exercise their conscience and that this leads to success. Its goals of targeting the unfortunate and expressing their discontent show a potential that challenges slavery and war. Therefore, this article will examine how Thoreau's philosophy targets the disgruntled minority who voice their complaints and exercise their conscience. First, its philosophy reflects the choice of its audience. His philosophy results in targeting those who express their opinions against current events surrounding war and slavery. Thoreau targets what is cheap and asserts that since his opposition gains nothing by changing the current order, he refuses to waste time on it. To its standards, those who conform fail to exercise their conscience and are therefore useless in achieving change. He refuses to target “those who find their encouragement and inspiration precisely in the current contagion of things, and their inspiration precisely in the current state of things” (“Economics” Par. 21). The writer refuses to waste time changing the minds of supporters of slavery and war because he finds them unworthy of achieving results. In other words, he believes that success is faster by targeting those who express their discontent...... middle of paper ...... must be challenged and according to the author, the only way to To achieve this is to overcome the potential for discontent. Complaints go against the order and have the ability to organize and change traditions. If he targets conformists, his efforts will be in vain because changing minds is more difficult than structuring an argument. Conformists have no potential to challenge the order and changing their minds proves more difficult than organizing the minority. Thoreau's philosophy of achieving change through the potential of the minority is therefore reflected in his choice of audience. Works Cited Thoreau, Henry D. “Economy.” Walden, Civil Disobedience and Other Writings. New York: WW Norton and Company, 2008. Print. Thoreau, Henry D. “Civil Disobedience.” Walden, Civil Disobedience and Other Writings. New York: WW Norton and Company, 2008. Print.