Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story

by Wilfred M. McClay

But the Patriots’ morale would be lifted immensely by the timely intervention of another pamphlet from the pen of Thomas Paine, the first in a series of pamphlets called The American Crisis, tailor-made for the discontents of that moment. It began with his famous inspirational words: “These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” Yes, he conceded, the immediate future looked grim; but that was even more reason to hunker down and push ahead, because “the harder the conflict,” he insisted, “the more glorious the triumph.” Once again, Paine’s words worked their magic. Washington ordered that they be read aloud to the army encampments, and they had the desired effect in rousing once more the fighting spirit of his men. For a second time in one year, Paine had made an inestimable gift to the colonial cause.