Common Sense

by Thomas Paine

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

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

Absolute governments (tho’ the disgrace of human nature) have this advantage with them, that they are simple; if the people suffer, they know the head from which their suffering springs, know likewise the remedy, and are not bewildered by a variety of causes and cures.

The state of a king shuts him from the world, yet the business of a king requires him to know it thoroughly;

it is wholly owing to the constitution of the people, and not to the constitution of the government that the crown is not as oppressive in England as in Turkey.

In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throw mankind into confusion.

It was the most prosperous invention the Devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry.

Kings they had none, and it was held sinful to acknowledge any being under that title but the Lord of Hosts.

Monarchy is ranked in scripture as one of the sins of the Jews, for which a curse in reserve is denounced against them.

I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you, THE LORD SHALL RULE OVER YOU.

That the Almighty hath here entered his protest against monarchical government is true,

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 for ever,

This is supposing the present race of kings in the world to have had an honorable origin; whereas it is more than probable, that could we take off the dark covering of antiquity, and trace them to their first rise, that we should find the first of them nothing better than the principal ruffian of some restless gang, whose savage manners or pre-eminence in subtility obtained him the title of chief among plunderers;

hereditary pretensions;

what at first was submitted to as a convenience, was afterwards claimed as a right.

Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent;

The parliament always following the strongest side.

America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power had any thing to do with her.

Because, any submission to, or dependance on Great Britain, tends directly to involve this continent in European wars and quarrels; and sets us at variance with nations, who would otherwise seek our friendship, and against whom, we have neither

Is the power who is jealous of our prosperity, a proper

there are ten times more to dread from a patched up connexion than from independance.

There are injuries which nature cannot forgive; she would cease to be nature if she did.

Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all others, the most improper to defend us.

The intimacy which is contracted in infancy, and the friendship which is formed in misfortune, are, of all others, the most lasting and unalterable.