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Rights of Man

3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 · rating details · 3,258 ratings · 50 reviews

One of Paine's greatest and most widely read works, considered a classic statement of faith in democracy and egalitarianism, defends the early events of the French Revolution, supports social security for workers, public employment for those in need of work, abolition of laws limiting wages, and other social reforms.

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Published January 1st 1992 by Hackett Publishing Company (first published 1791)

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Sep 10, 2012 Sean Chick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Flawed but vastly superior to Burke. Paine relies more upon the argument that man has rights, than any form of historical tradition. Paine was right that there is no There is no “political Adam” from which all laws derive. People have a right to revolution, because government is a construct of man, not an organic system ordained by god and the dead hand of tradition. Also, the unity of man is an absolute and based upon natural rights, while nobles hold their position through coercion and war. He...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Mitch rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A great piece of revolutionary treatise. Paine's critique of Burke is nothing short of polemic gold, and his ideas on the rights of man are of course very interesting. The following excerpt grasped my attention immediately and is a great representation of Paine's ideas:
“There never did, there never will, and there never can, exist a Parliament, or any description of men, or any generation of men, in any country, possessed of the right or the power of binding and controlling posterity to the "end...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Olivia rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the Young Women I mentor at church was bumped up to AP English from the regular English track. Her first AP assignment was to read this book and write an analysis using specific templates. She was terrified and so I offered to read the book as well and hold her hand while she wrote the essay in hopes that she would realize as only Bob the Builder AND Barack Obama say best, "Yes, we can!". I did a fairly thorough reading of the first half of the book and a not-so-thorough reading of the se...more One of the Young Women I mentor at church was bumped up to AP English from the regular English track. Her first AP assignment was to read this book and write an analysis using specific templates. She was terrified and so I offered to read the book as well and hold her hand while she wrote the essay in hopes that she would realize as only Bob the Builder AND Barack Obama say best, "Yes, we can!". I did a fairly thorough reading of the first half of the book and a not-so-thorough reading of the second half. I have to admit, having the advantage of 20/20 hindsight made it difficult to read this. Paine wrote this as a response to Edmond Burke's pamphlet "Relections on the French Revolution". Burke was originally cautiously optimistic about the revolutionary actions in France, but quickly realized what was really going on and became an outspoken critic of the revolution. Paine thought Burke was an idiot for not wholly supporting the revolution and this book is his reasoning. Needless to say, Burke was 100% right and Paine just looks like a fool. I was going to be kind and give Paine 2 stars because of his role in the American Revolution, but then I read this, "By the universal economy of nature it is known, and by the instance of the Jews it is proved, that the human species has a tendency to degenerate, in any small number of persons, when separated from the general stock of society, and intermarrying constantly with each other." Can you believe that?? Paine was trying to compare intermarrying aristocrats in Europe with the Jews! That is just plain ugly bigotry, so now I can only give him one star.

The sad part of this whole project is that the highschool kids were not required or asked to read any of Burke's pamphlet on the French Revolution. When I asked my mentee what she knew about the French Revolution, she didn't even know what I was talking about. The kids were not given the proper tools for this project. Not only are the kids missing out on some outstanding writing and reasoning, I'm curious how they are expected to give an even half-way decent analysis of Paine's writing with only half the story. This assignment has furthered my conviction that not only do the public schools have a morally bankrupt political agenda to advance, they are doing a piss poor job of actually educating. I feel sorry for the teachers who are caught in the middle of this garbage. When the time comes, my kid will read Burke along with his Paine!(less)

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Feb 21, 2011 Delilah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read The Social Contract and Rights of Man one after the other.

As a fierce supporter of the books, not downloads, I will first review the aesthetics of these two books. Both works are quite light considering the heavy content. I bought these first hand, so the covers are smooth, and the pages firm and crisp. I enjoy Wordsworth Classics beige pages, which I find very easy on the eyes, compared to the reflective, stark whites of the computer I look at for 8 hours a day (plus blogging time). I e...more I read The Social Contract and Rights of Man one after the other.

As a fierce supporter of the books, not downloads, I will first review the aesthetics of these two books. Both works are quite light considering the heavy content. I bought these first hand, so the covers are smooth, and the pages firm and crisp. I enjoy Wordsworth Classics beige pages, which I find very easy on the eyes, compared to the reflective, stark whites of the computer I look at for 8 hours a day (plus blogging time). I enjoy the picture on Rights of Man, painting “Fighting at the Hotel de Ville” by Jean Victor Schnetz. It is very indicative of the fervour which in contained inside. However I can’t help but feel the main subject’s face seems apathetic to his victory. The image on The Social Contract, “A Review of the Guards de la Ville de Paris – the municipal militia - outside the Hotel de Ville”, is set at the same location. It is simple, and straight to the point, but not altogether enjoyable or pleasing to the eye.

Rights of Man
Paine’s words in Rights of Man has a great intensity and fierce tone, which I suppose is fantastically enjoyable if you happen to agree with all his arguments. I, however, could barely get past his scathing remarks and snide attitude to find exactly what his case is. I would also recommend you figure out who this Burke character is, and read whatever it was he wrote that made Paine so gosh-darn angry before commencing Rights of Man.

I found Rousseau’s arguments in The Social Contract easier to follow, and thus I found it a much more enjoyable read. Rousseau is quoted because he makes is points succinctly eg Might does not make right. Rousseau sets out his theories in a logical and rational manner, though there is still enough personal emotion not to put the reader to sleep.

I found the latter read more pleasurable as Rousseau was less prescriptive, and allows for the will of the people to choose. However, I found many of his methods for choosing a government are no longer applicable. Paine’s passion and steadfastness against certain forms of government does not allow for as much flexibility, and so I often felt like a chastised child.

Paine seems in constant fear of being caught in his own contradictions. He does not give the reader enough to credit. Several times he accuses Burke’s arguments of being so ill-founded and irrational that they do not warrant rebuttal. If the apologies and blank dismissals were cut out, the novel would be much shorter and to the point, and I would definitely be more sympathetic to his cause.

My overall winner is The Social Contract.

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Apr 02, 2012 Russio rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first 20 pages or so are incendiary - essential reading. And you can stick with Paine all the way through, especially if you are a republican socialist like me. The problem is that I am a 21st Century MTV-generation dude and, as a result, am used to seeing politics communicated in the white noise of soundbites (I wonder what Paine would make of that)? After the first twenty pages my cries of "Right on!" became slowly replaced by mutterings of "Oh yeah, I get it now."

The whole thing is writt...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Ronald Wise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of Paine's most famous publications, which got him tried in absentia in England and sentenced to death. There are some strange aspects to this book: While presenting some very convincing arguments for representative, constitution-based democracy over hereditary monarchies, much of the text is a direct attack on Edmund Burke's prior condemnation of the French Revolution. The last part of the book is strange in that it uses actual tax revenue figures in Great Britain to argue against aristcrac...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Ben rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: politics

This books has patches of brilliance buried in amongst many pages of Paine picking a fight with Edmund Burke. This is somewhat typical of "classics" of political theory like this - they were designed only as pamphlets to deal with the issues of the day, and were not meant to be timeless.

While there is indeed timeless wisdom in here, a modern reader must sift through a lot of dirt to get to it - hence the two-star rating

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Jul 27, 2012 Katie Lynn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Definitely not my favorite of Thomas Paine's works. Second half is better than the first, so stick with it.

"But with respect to religion itself, without regard to names, and as directing itself from the universal family of mankind to the divine object of adoration, it is man bringing to his maker the fruits of his heart; and though these fruits may differ from each other like the fruits of the earth, the grateful tribute of everyone is accepted."

"It is the faculty of the human mind to become wha...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This work by renowned philosopher and political influence Thomas Paine was addressed to George Washington as a document Paine hoped Washington would find useful. However, its message is not only wide-sweeping but immediate. Though the rights of man in contemporary society are greater than perhaps Paine could have even imagined, the work still proves incredibly useful to anyone who may feel as if they are being oppressed. This document reaches out to each individual in a given society and encoura...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Rob rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, favorites

Thomas Paine is one of those writers who seemed to have been dropped by a deist God 200 years before the world was really ready for him. His energy, honesty and political bravery was intense. By his voice alone he helped to transform the West. Common Sense, the Rights of Man, and finally the Age of Reason have all thrown the political and social gauntlet down and caused people to either cheer him (Common Sense) or hiss his name (Age of Reason).

The Rights of Man was visionary in its call for int...more

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Nov 10, 2009 Rob Manwaring rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wonder if I had actually read this during my undergad days, I might not have had to re-submit my woeful essay on Shelley and Blake?

Blistering piece of political pamphleteering! It's scary and depressing to think how relevant it still remains today. Paine's defence of democracy and attack on the Monarchy is insightful, angry, passionate, but also rational and clear-sighted. He has a nifty turn of phrase too, I like his comment about Burke's sympathy for the French aristocracy, "He pities the p...more

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Jun 10, 2009 Toni Daugherty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm re-reading this book in light of the current administration. I'm confident that Pres. Bush played "hookie" the week his college class read & discussed this book.

everyone interested in politics & mankind should give this a go!

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Jul 24, 2011 Erin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fascinating and historically significant book about the French revolution and its merits, as well as commentary on the 'new' form of government pioneered after the American Revolution. This book contains a lot of the opinions and theories of thought that founded the US, and as such, is a worthwhile read for any citizen of this great nation. There are also some comments pertaining to recent political chatter about issues such as caring for the children via education, the poor, and the aged. As a...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Ed Holden rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is less of a generalized manifesto than I had anticipated. Instead, Thomas Paine was one of many pamphleteers who responded to Edmund Burke's essay on the French Revolution. And though Paine seems to have rhetorically pulverized Burke's arguments, I do feel like I'm missing something without having read Burke's side of the argument. Still, some good points all around: that a hereditary system of government is purely imaginary and need not be accepted by the true source of power, the public;...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Stan Bebbington rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of those books, written a long time ago (1791) which offers an opinion of philosophical problems as though it was written yesterday. Paine was responding to Burke's critique of the French revolution taken from the point of view of those in power in England. Paine offers a damning response to the idea of a monarchy which still has relevance today. Mind you the examples of the heriditary system at the time were not impressive. The presence on the throne around that time of a Dutchman and the E...more

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Apr 05, 2009 Don rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: politics, history

Well, good to cross this one of my list of 'great books to read before you die'. Paine's polemical style rankles and there are large sections where he caricatures Burke's arguments to the point of ridicule. Whatever you think of the political tradition he represented, Burke was a great thinker and a worthy opponent of radical, progressive currents.

Paine also suffers from being so wrong in his confident assertions about the benefits that would come from the triumph of rational, representative gov...more

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Apr 15, 2011 Kate Woods Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

A pleasure to read beginning to end, Rights of Man by Thomas Paine is the third book in a discussion series in which I am currently participating, and for the life of me I can't figure out why this masterpiece of history, philosophy, politics and statecraft was not the lead-off book in the series. Not only does the clear-thinking Paine lay out with understatement and restraint winning arguments against the ridiculous Edmund Burke and his Reflections on the Revolution in France, but in the first...more A pleasure to read beginning to end, Rights of Man by Thomas Paine is the third book in a discussion series in which I am currently participating, and for the life of me I can't figure out why this masterpiece of history, philosophy, politics and statecraft was not the lead-off book in the series. Not only does the clear-thinking Paine lay out with understatement and restraint winning arguments against the ridiculous Edmund Burke and his Reflections on the Revolution in France, but in the first section provides an understandable narrative of the history of events leading to the French Revolution and proves himself quite the capable journalist to boot. I'd trust Paine's account any day over that of the supposed "objective" historian Christopher Hibbert, who wrote The Days of the French Revolution, the first book in the series.

And of course, this book reprints The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens by the National Assembly of France, something one would think would be a centerpiece in any serious work about the French Revolution.

I often found myself, in reading Part One, stopping to put down the book and raise my hand in salute to Mr. Paine, who decimated the monarchist arguments of the conservative Mr. Burke. Then in Part Two, I found myself stopping to put down the book and marvel at the forward-thinking economic ideas of our rabble-rousing Founding Father. Burke gets all the credit for precognition for a brief passage that foretells the rise of a military dictator in France, but it seems Paine was recommending measures that sound an awful lot like Social Security, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and a progressive tax system well before the turn of the 19th Century.

Everyone should read this book. A good dose of Rights of Man would do much to temper the current hard-hearted anti-tax fervor of supposed "patriots" and remind supposed "Christians" that this freethinking revolutionary never lost his compassion for the aged, infirm and poor. I wonder what would happen if people substituted references to "monarch" with "corporation."(less)

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Jan 29, 2013 Leo Fitzpatrick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the Rights of Man, Thomas Paine offers a rebuke of Edmund Burke’s unflattering analysis of the French Revolution. Mr. Paine revisits the arguments for republicanism and liberty he wielded in the American Revolution to defend the early French Revolution. Few of Mr. Burke's arguments are directly addressed by Mr. Paine, there is a heavy selection bias in this rebuttal. I suggest that you can gain the most from this text by reading Mr. Burke’s work and recognizing the conversational nature of th...more

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Sep 22, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: politics-political-science

Super great ideas, but it is kind of boring to read. The parts that refer to exact particulars o the budget and such for his time period definitely lost me.

Still, I have to give it four stars for giving me no less than 10 moments of pause and reflection which led to changes or improvements in my personal philosophy on government.

I definitely recommend it, but less as a literary masterpiece and more as an opportunity for expansion of thought.

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Apr 12, 2010 Jenna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Though this book was written for the generation of the American Revolution and mainly dealt with improvements that England could make to their government, I found that a lot of the principles could still be applied today. I learned a lot about what a constitution should do for it's country and what the government should do in following that constitution.

I think that a quote from the end of the book really sums it up. "When it shall be said in any country in the world my poor are happy; neither...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Searcy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For me it was ok but he is mostly fighting with this other writer about the French Rev. and he can't seem to focus on anything but hating him and vice versa. He makes some good points on freedom while looking at the newly formed Americas but for the most part his is belly aching and quoting his abonimable counter part. I forgot the other guys name but then again........blah, blah, blah.

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Jun 01, 2010 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoy Paine's works and, although Rights of Man has more than a few sections that drag (particularly the sections on very specific reforms the post- American Revolution English govt. can enact), overall I think this is essential political philosophy 101. I liked the discussion of the distiction beween government and constitution. An excellent foundation for thinking about representational democracy and a concise (perhaps a semi-concise) defeat of the idea of monarchical or aristocratic heredit...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Steve rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Paine's position on inalienable rights played a major role in the Bill of Rights being included in the Constitution. This work is as relevant today as when it was first written. An absolute Must-Read for anyone interested in freedom.

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Jun 26, 2012 Ralph Davis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Read Thomas Paine and you get a sense of what a complete failure the American experiment has been--how utterly it has failed to live up to its ideals, hue totally it has been subverted by reactionaries.

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Jun 19, 2012 Sidharth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

A great polemic on the inherent rights of human beings, and the difference between a nation and government. Besides being a very enlightening little book that clearly explains much of the philosophical basis of the United States, Paine's witty attacks on Edmund Burke's defense of British and French aristocracy make it an entertaining read as well. It is, of course, slightly chilling in retrospect to read Paine's endless praises of the French Revolution, knowing now that in just a few years it wo...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Al Razi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Essential reading if marred somewhat by it being a response to Burke. However, in the brief periods when he addresses the principles removed from the context of Burke's writing, the brilliance of his reasoning is profound.

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Jul 29, 2011 Kirk Bower added it · review of another edition

Paine is one of the most underrated person of his time. Is arguments against Burke comes close to trash talking on a basketball court.

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Nov 25, 2010 RK Byers rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

perhaps the most amazing thing about this treastie on freedom is that it's dedicated to my favorite slave-owner, George Washington!

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Apr 03, 2013 Ben rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was all right, but I didn't enjoy it. I understand the historical significance, but I didn't enjoy the book personally.

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Oct 01, 2009 Seán rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, politics

Brilliant!

Sidenote: Alive today, the original T-Paine would horsewhip Glenn Beck, not endorse his idiocy. To wit, in TROM Paine supports progressive income taxation to support, among other things, healthcare for the poor.

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About Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was an author, pamphleteer, revolutionary, radical, inventor, intellectual and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was born in England and lived and worked there until age 37, when he emigrated to the British American colonies, in time to participate in the American Revolution. His principal contributions were the powerful, widely-read pamphlet Common Sense (1776), ad...more

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Books by Thomas Paine

Common Sense, The Rights of Man and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine

Collected Writings: Common Sense/The Crisis/Rights of Man/The Age of Reason/Pamphlets/Articles & Letters (Library of America #76)

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Quotes from Rights of Man

“Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.” — 464 people liked it

“When it shall be said in any country in the world my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want; the taxes are not oppressive; the rational world is my friend, because I am a friend of its happiness: When these things can be said, there may that country boast its Constitution and its Government” — 17 people liked it

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