Addressed to Inhabitants of America Written by an Englishman January 10, 1776

By Thomas Paine

Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first a patron, the last a punisher.

(Paine 2023, Loc 48)

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; …

(Paine 2023, Loc 53)

… that the ELECTED might never form to themselves an interest separate from the ELECTORS, …

(Paine 2023, Loc 82)

Here then is the origin and rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world; here too is the design and end of government, viz. freedom and security.

(Paine 2023, Loc 94)

But as the same constitution which gives the commons a power to check the king by withholding the supplies, gives afterwards the king a power to check the commons, by empowering him to reject their other bills; it again supposed that the king is wiser than those whom it has already supposed to be wiser than him. A mere absurdity.

(Paine 2023, Loc 121)

There is something exceedingly ridiculous in the composition of monarchy; it first excludes a man from the means of information, yet empowers him to act in cases where the highest judgment is required. The state of a king shuts him from the world, yet the business of a king requires him to know it thoroughly; wherefore the different parts, by unnaturally opposing and destroying each other, prove the whole character to be absurd and useless.

(Paine 2023, Loc 131)

Individuals are undoubtedly safer in England than in some other countries, but the WILL of the king is as much the LAW of the land in Britain as in France, with this difference, that instead of proceeding directly from his mouth, it is handed to the people under the more formidable shape of an act of parliament. For the fate of Charles the First hath only mad kings more subtle – not more just.

(Paine 2023, Loc 156)

Oppression is often the CONSEQUENCE, but seldom or never the MEANS of riches; and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor, it generally makes him too timorous to be wealthy.

(Paine 2023, Loc 175)

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.

(Paine 2023, Loc 191)

The children of Israel being oppressed by the Midianites, Gideon marched against against them with a small army, and victory, through the divine interposition, decided in his favor. The Jews, elate with success, and attributing it to the generalship of Gideon, proposed making him a king, saying RULE THOU OVER US, THOU AND THY SON AND THY SON’S SON. Here was temptation in its fullest extent; not a kingdom only, but an hereditary one, but Gideon in the piety of his soul replied, I WILL NOT RULE OVER YOU, NEITHER SHALL MY SON RULE OVER YOU THE LORD SHALL RULE OVER YOU. Words need not be more explicit; Gideon doth not decline the honor, but deniers their right to give it; neither doth he compliment them with invented declarations of his thanks, but in the positive style of a prophet charges them with disaffection to their proper Sovereign, the King of heaven.

(Paine 2023, Loc 210)

Men fall out with names without understanding them.

(Paine 2023, Loc 332)

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

(Paine 2023, Loc 338)

But where, says some, is the King of America? I’ll tell you. Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve the monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING. 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.

(Paine 2023, Loc 616)

The debt we may contract does not deserve our regard, if the work be but accomplished. No nation ought to be without a debt. A national debt is a national bond; and when it bears no interest, is in no case a grievance.

(Paine 2023, Loc 674)

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

(Paine 2023, Loc 799)

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References

Paine, Thomas. 2023. Common Sense. Edited by Redaktion Gröls-Verlag. N.p.: Gröls Verlag.

ISBN 9783988289537