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American Heritage Series #5
Common Sense and Other Political Writing
Book by Thomas Paine
- GenresNonfictionHistory
184 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1953
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About the author
Thomas Paine
1,534 books1,881 followersThomas Paine was an English-American political activist, author, political theorist and revolutionary. As the author of two highly influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, he inspired the Patriots in 1776 to declare independence from Britain. His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights. He has been called "a corset maker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination".
Born in Thetford, England, in the county of Norfolk, Paine emigrated to the British American colonies in 1774 with the help of Benjamin Franklin, arriving just in time to participate in the American Revolution. His principal contributions were the powerful, widely read pamphlet Common Sense (1776), the all-time best-selling American book that advocated colonial America's independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, and The American Crisis (1776–83), a pro-revolutionary pamphlet series. Common Sense was so influential that John Adams said, "Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain."
Paine lived in France for most of the 1790s, becoming deeply involved in the French Revolution. He wrote the Rights of Man (1791), in part a defence of the French Revolution against its critics. His attacks on British writer Edmund Burke led to a trial and conviction in absentia in 1792 for the crime of seditious libel. In 1792, despite not being able to speak French, he was elected to the French National Convention. The Girondists regarded him as an ally. Consequently, the Montagnards, especially Robespierre, regarded him as an enemy.
In December 1793, he was arrested and imprisoned in Paris, then released in 1794. He became notorious because of his pamphlet The Age of Reason (1793–94), in which he advocated deism, promoted reason and freethinking, and argued against institutionalized religion in general and Christian doctrine in particular. He also wrote the pamphlet Agrarian Justice (1795), discussing the origins of property, and introduced the concept of a guaranteed minimum income. In 1802, he returned to America where he died on June 8, 1809. Only six people attended his funeral as he had been ostracized for his ridicule of Christianity.
Born in Thetford, England, in the county of Norfolk, Paine emigrated to the British American colonies in 1774 with the help of Benjamin Franklin, arriving just in time to participate in the American Revolution. His principal contributions were the powerful, widely read pamphlet Common Sense (1776), the all-time best-selling American book that advocated colonial America's independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, and The American Crisis (1776–83), a pro-revolutionary pamphlet series. Common Sense was so influential that John Adams said, "Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain."
Paine lived in France for most of the 1790s, becoming deeply involved in the French Revolution. He wrote the Rights of Man (1791), in part a defence of the French Revolution against its critics. His attacks on British writer Edmund Burke led to a trial and conviction in absentia in 1792 for the crime of seditious libel. In 1792, despite not being able to speak French, he was elected to the French National Convention. The Girondists regarded him as an ally. Consequently, the Montagnards, especially Robespierre, regarded him as an enemy.
In December 1793, he was arrested and imprisoned in Paris, then released in 1794. He became notorious because of his pamphlet The Age of Reason (1793–94), in which he advocated deism, promoted reason and freethinking, and argued against institutionalized religion in general and Christian doctrine in particular. He also wrote the pamphlet Agrarian Justice (1795), discussing the origins of property, and introduced the concept of a guaranteed minimum income. In 1802, he returned to America where he died on June 8, 1809. Only six people attended his funeral as he had been ostracized for his ridicule of Christianity.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 23, 2024
A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS BY ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN PATRIOTS
Thomas Paine (1737-1737) - June 8, 1809) was an English-American author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. This book contains portions of his major political writings.
He begins 'Common Sense' with the observation, "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have and will arise which are not local but universal, and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected and in the event of which their affections are interested." (Pg. 3)
Her criticizes hereditary succession, since "For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever; and though himself might deserve some decent degree of honors of his co-temporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them." (Pg. 14)
He extends this argument in 'The Rights of Man': "hereditary succession... would be supposing itself possessed of a right superior to the rest, namely, that of commanding by its own authority how the world shall be hereafter governed and who shall govern it." (Pg. 161)
His stirring 'The American Crisis' (which Washington had read aloud to his troops, to inspire them) begins with the famous words, "There are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us that, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." (Pg. 55)
Paine's writings are absolutely essential reading, for anyone even marginally interested in the American revolution and its aftermath.
Thomas Paine (1737-1737) - June 8, 1809) was an English-American author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. This book contains portions of his major political writings.
He begins 'Common Sense' with the observation, "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances have and will arise which are not local but universal, and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected and in the event of which their affections are interested." (Pg. 3)
Her criticizes hereditary succession, since "For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever; and though himself might deserve some decent degree of honors of his co-temporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them." (Pg. 14)
He extends this argument in 'The Rights of Man': "hereditary succession... would be supposing itself possessed of a right superior to the rest, namely, that of commanding by its own authority how the world shall be hereafter governed and who shall govern it." (Pg. 161)
His stirring 'The American Crisis' (which Washington had read aloud to his troops, to inspire them) begins with the famous words, "There are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us that, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." (Pg. 55)
Paine's writings are absolutely essential reading, for anyone even marginally interested in the American revolution and its aftermath.
April 19, 2023
There is something to be said about Paine’s writing that he had convinced me at times while reading his work, to fight in favour of a revolutionary war that ended over 200 years before I was born.
Of the political works in this book, Common Sense is my favourite. This is followed by the Rights of Men Part 1 (It was especially amusing to read Paine’s direct response to Edmund Burke’s arguments on the French Revolution) and the Dissertation of the First Principles of Government.
Of course, not everything Paine writes about has stood the test of time. His ideas about how the American Congress should have be structured I found quite odd. It is also interesting to read about how he felt about how war would only happen when there is absolute monarchy.
I find it unfair however to take issue with Paine for failing to foresee the possible problems with representative governments as only the USA and France fit that description at that time and there was no example of a matured representative government that he could look to.
The editor on his part does a brilliant 50-page introduction to the history and philosophy behind Thomas Paine's work and his tragic life that I found myself being fully satisfied to pursue Paine’s writings, having been presented with a fair amount of context. The work of the editor, Nelson Adkins, is no small feat and it is to his credit that I have giving this edition a five-star rating.
Of the political works in this book, Common Sense is my favourite. This is followed by the Rights of Men Part 1 (It was especially amusing to read Paine’s direct response to Edmund Burke’s arguments on the French Revolution) and the Dissertation of the First Principles of Government.
Of course, not everything Paine writes about has stood the test of time. His ideas about how the American Congress should have be structured I found quite odd. It is also interesting to read about how he felt about how war would only happen when there is absolute monarchy.
I find it unfair however to take issue with Paine for failing to foresee the possible problems with representative governments as only the USA and France fit that description at that time and there was no example of a matured representative government that he could look to.
The editor on his part does a brilliant 50-page introduction to the history and philosophy behind Thomas Paine's work and his tragic life that I found myself being fully satisfied to pursue Paine’s writings, having been presented with a fair amount of context. The work of the editor, Nelson Adkins, is no small feat and it is to his credit that I have giving this edition a five-star rating.
September 10, 2013
I was in High School in early to mid-1960s, so I'm just guessing about which book/edition we read. It is also possible that the paperback copy I read belonged to my parents.
I realize I should go back to reading some of these classic works. I recently read The Constitution and it was much more interesting than when I read it at age seventeen. More amendments, too!
I realize I should go back to reading some of these classic works. I recently read The Constitution and it was much more interesting than when I read it at age seventeen. More amendments, too!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews