Common Sense

by Thomas Paine

a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom.

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal,

Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter

negatively by restraining our vices.

Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one;

the more simple any thing is, the less liable it is to be disordered, and the easier repaired when disordered;

Oppression is often the consequence, but seldom or never the means of riches;

Holland without a king hath enjoyed more peace for this last century than any of the monarchical governments in Europe.

Government by kings was first introduced into the world by the Heathens, from whom the children of Israel copied the custom. It was the most prosperous invention the Devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry.

All anti-monarchical parts of scripture have been very smoothly glossed over in monarchical governments,

However, it is needless to spend much time in exposing the folly of hereditary right, if there are any so weak as to believe it, let them promiscuously worship the ass and lion, and welcome. I shall neither copy their humility, nor disturb their devotion.

In short, monarchy and succession have laid (not this or that kingdom only) but the world in blood and ashes. ’Tis a form of government which the word of God bears testimony against, and blood will attend it.

Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.

We may as well assert, that because a child has thrived upon milk, that it is never to have meat, or that the first twenty years of our lives is to become a precedent for the next twenty.

This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe.

For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other.

A national debt is a national bond; and when it bears no interest, is in no case a grievance.

Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.

The rich are in general slaves to fear, and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a spaniel.

I fully and conscientiously believe, that it is the will of the Almighty, that there should be diversity of religious opinions among us:

It affords a larger field for our Christian kindness.

Were we all of one way of thinking, our religious dispositions would want matter for probation; and on this liberal principle, I look on the various denominations among us, to be like children of the same family,...

until an independance is declared, the Continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.

I have frequently amused myself both in public and private companies, with silently remarking the specious errors of those who speak without reflecting.

we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest, purest constitution on the face of the earth.

We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now.

WHEREFORE, instead of gazing at each other with suspicious or doubtful curiosity, let each of us, hold out to his neighbour the hearty hand of friendship, and unite in drawing a line, which, like an act of oblivion, shall bury in forgetfulness every former dissention.