Thomas Paine

The American constitutions were to liberty what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax.

A knowledge of the practice was then joined to the theory; and all that was wanting to give it real existence was opportunity.

War is their trade, plunder and revenue their objects.

When it becomes necessary to do anything, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it.

He pities the plumage, but forgets the dying bird.

They had a cause at stake, on which depended their freedom or their slavery.

Natural rights are those which appertain to man in right of his existence.

To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.

A constitution is not a thing in name only, but in fact.

Because aristocracy has a tendency to deteriorate the human species.

To account for this sudden transition, it is proper to observe that there are two distinct species of popularity; the one excited by merit, and the other by resentment.

The thing, in many points, contained better principles than those upon which the Government had hitherto been administered; but with respect to the Cour Pleniere, it was no other than a medium through which despotism was to pass, without…