happytobe
24th August 2013, 18:30
Someday soon, someone will write a pamphlet or post a blog that changes everything...
"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 their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated."
~Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776
A Brief Background
Thomas Paine has been called a mere "pamphleteer" by those who wish to belittle the value of his work. However, if the signing of The Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, was the "birth" of a new nation in America, then its "conception" occurred on January 10, 1776, with the publication of Paine's Common Sense. Prior to January 10th, the Colonists did not seriously and in sufficient number consider separation from Great Britain. After 01/10/76, they did.
Moreover, a case can be made that Thomas Paine was the author of The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was the head of the committee responsible for drafting The Declaration, and received the credit, but there are letters from Jefferson to Paine inquiring about when the various drafts of The Declaration will be ready. Furthermore, the original anti-slavery language of The Declaration makes more sense coming from Paine than Jefferson, since Jefferson owned slaves and Paine didn't.
Quotes from Thomas Paine
"The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."
"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one."
"Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true."
"I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace."
"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot."
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again."
"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_paine.html
"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 their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated."
~Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776
A Brief Background
Thomas Paine has been called a mere "pamphleteer" by those who wish to belittle the value of his work. However, if the signing of The Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, was the "birth" of a new nation in America, then its "conception" occurred on January 10, 1776, with the publication of Paine's Common Sense. Prior to January 10th, the Colonists did not seriously and in sufficient number consider separation from Great Britain. After 01/10/76, they did.
Moreover, a case can be made that Thomas Paine was the author of The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was the head of the committee responsible for drafting The Declaration, and received the credit, but there are letters from Jefferson to Paine inquiring about when the various drafts of The Declaration will be ready. Furthermore, the original anti-slavery language of The Declaration makes more sense coming from Paine than Jefferson, since Jefferson owned slaves and Paine didn't.
Quotes from Thomas Paine
"The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."
"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one."
"Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true."
"I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace."
"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot."
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again."
"Lead, follow, or get out of the way."
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/thomas_paine.html