Others, craven-hearted, said disparagingly, that “he threw his life away,” because he resisted the government. Which way have they thrown their lives, pray? — such as would praise a man for attacking singly an ordinary band of thieves or murderers.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American philosopher and writer

Speech (1859-10-30), “A Plea for Captain John Brown,” Concord, Massachusetts
    (Source)

Speaking of John Brown and his raid on Harpers Ferry. Collected in A Yankee in Canada (1866).