Thomas Paine

When the latter, instead of being ingrafted on the principles of the former, assumes to exist for itself, and acts by partialities of favour and oppression, it becomes the cause of the mischiefs it ought to prevent.

Excess and inequality of taxation, however disguised in the means, never fail to appear in their effects.

There the poor are not oppressed, the rich are not privileged.

Industry is not mortified by the splendid extravagance of a court rioting at its expense.

One of the great advantages of the American Revolution has been, that it led to a discovery of the principles, and laid open the imposition, of governments.

All the revolutions till then had been worked within the atmosphere of a court, and never on the grand floor of a nation.

It is impossible that such governments as have hitherto existed in the world, could have commenced by any other means than a total violation of every principle sacred and moral.

The obscurity in which the origin of all the present old governments is buried, implies the iniquity and disgrace with which they began.

The hatred which the Norman invasion and tyranny begat, must have been deeply rooted in the nation, to have outlived the contrivance to obliterate it.

Though not a courtier will talk of the curfew-bell, not a village in England has forgotten it.

There does not exist within such governments sufficient stamina whereon to engraft reformation; and the shortest and most effectual remedy is to begin anew on the ground of the nation.

Nay, even the laws of governments are obliged to slide into this principle, by making degrees to consist in crimes and not in persons.