Thomas Paine

A cannot make a will to take from B the property of B, and give it to C; yet this is the manner in which (what is called) hereditary succession by law operates.

In whatever light hereditary succession, as growing out of the will and testament of some former generation, presents itself, it is an absurdity.

If the present generation, or any other, are disposed to be slaves, it does not lessen the right of the succeeding generation to be free.

The rights of men in society, are neither devisable or transferable, nor annihilable, but are descendable only, and it is not in the power of any generation to intercept finally, and cut off the descent.

It is no relief, but an aggravation to a person in slavery, to reflect that he was sold by his parent; and as that which heightens the criminality of an act cannot be produced to prove the legality of it, hereditary succession cannot be…

It operates to preclude the consent of the succeeding generations; and the preclusion of consent is despotism.

With respect to the first of these heads, that of a Family establishing itself with hereditary powers on its own authority, and independent of the consent of a Nation, all men will concur in calling it despotism; and it would be…

It was by the government being hereditary, that the liberties of the people were endangered.

Government with insolence is despotism; but when contempt is added it becomes worse; and to pay for contempt is the excess of slavery.

The nation is the paymaster of everything, and everything must conform to its general will.

But the right of the Nation is an original right, as universal as taxation.

The right of a Parliament is only a right in trust, a right by delegation, and that but from a very small part of the Nation; and one of its Houses has not even this.