Thoreau was a lifelong abolitionist, delivering speeches that criticized the Fugitive Slave Law while praising the articles of Wendell Phillips and defending abolitionist John Brown. The view of passive resistance and nonviolent civil disobedience in his article On the Duty of Civil Disobedience later influenced the political thoughts and actions of such celebrated persons as Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Thoreau is sometimes described as an anarchist.Though his philosophy of civil disobedience seems to appeal for improving rather than abolishing government — “I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government” — the orientation of this improvement points to anarchism: “That government is best which governs not at all; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have”.
He died on May 6th, 1862 at age 44. Before his death, he experienced illness.  In 1835, Thoreau contracted tuberculosis and suffered from it occasionally afterwards. In 1859, after the excursion in a late night to research the growth rings of tree stumps during a rain storm, he fell ill with bronchitis. His health delayed over three years with brief periods of remission, until he became completely bedridden. Recognizing the terminal nature of his disease, Thoreau threw himself into revising and editing his unpublished books, particularly The Maine Woods and Excursions, and petitioning presses to print revised editions of A Week and Walden. His friends were shocked at his diminishing body and his tranquil acceptance of death. Aware that he was dying, Thoreau's last words were “Now comes good sailing”, following two lone words, “moose” and “Indian”. Emerson wrote the eulogy spoken at his funeral.
Lao Zi (also spelled Lao-Tzu; Lao-tze) is a philosopher of ancient China. He was born in Zhou Dynasty, a period around the 6th century BC and was reckoned a contemporary of Confucius. In Taoist myths, Lao Zi was conceived when his mother gazed upon a falling star and he remained in her mother’s womb for 62 years before being born when his mother was leaning against a plum tree. The Chinese surname Li may come from the character with “plum”. Lao Zi was said to be born as a grown man with a full grey beard and long earlobes. These two features are both symbols of wisdom and long life in Chinese tradition. Lao Zi is not his real name. Actually, his surname was Li and his personal name was Er or Dan.His hometown is Lu Yi County, Henan Province. He is widely known as the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of the philosophy of Taoism, and he is even adored as a deity in Taoism and traditional Chinese religions. People generally think of Lao Zi as a scholar who worked as the Keeper of the Archives for the royal court of Zhou. Lao Zi never opened a formal school but he attracted many students and loyal disciples.
Lao Zi is thought of as the author of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), in spite of its uncertain identity of its author(s) and/or compiler(s) which has been debated throughout history. It is one of the most profound treatises in ontology of Chinese philosophy, covering philosophy, health, sociology and ethics. It is known as an encyclopedia. As with most other ancient Chinese philosophers, Lao Zi often explains his thoughts through paradox, repetition, analogy, symmetry, appropriation of ancient sayings, rhyme, and rhythm. The Tao Te Ching, or Lao Zi describes the Dao (or Tao) as the source and basis of all existence. It is the root of all things, unseen, but really exists; immensely powerful yet supremely humble. The Daodejing intends to lead people to live in harmony with Dao. Wu wei, explained literally as “non-action” or “not acting”, is a central concept of the Daodejing. Lao Zi used the term broadly with simplicity and humility , in contrast to selfish action. On a political level, it refers to avoiding such circumstances as war, harsh laws and heavy taxes. The Tao Te Ching not only affects the thought for 2000 years of history after the Han dynasty and valued by Western thinkers, and has become one of world treasure troves. 梭罗的超验主义与老子道家思想的关联性(2):http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_9996.html