It has of itself no rights; they are altogether duties.
Thomas Paine: “It has of itself no rights; they are altogether duties.”
Editor's note · Context
In "Rights of Man," this passage succinctly states that government possesses no inherent rights, only duties to the people.
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I do not believe that any two men, on what are called doctrinal points, think alike who think at all.
Why may we not suppose, that the great Father of all is pleased with variety of devotion; and that the greatest offence we can act, is that by which we seek to torment and render each other miserable?
If, therefore, the good to be obtained be worthy of a passive, rational, and costless revolution, it would be bad policy to prefer waiting for a calamity that should force a violent one.
When men unite in agreeing that a thing is good, could it be obtained, such for instance as relief from a burden of taxes and the extinction of corruption, the object is more than half accomplished.