Common Sense

by Thomas Paine

a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right,

Time makes more converts than reason.

the elected might never form to themselves an interest separate from the electors,

a thirst for absolute power is the natural disease of monarchy.

hereditary succession can derive no glory.

In short, monarchy and succession have laid (not this or that kingdom only) but the world in blood and ashes.

“never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep.”

And a government which cannot preserve the peace, is no government at all, and in that case we pay our money for nothing;

Youth is the seed time of good habits,

When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.