Thomas Paine: “To spare now, would be the height of extravagance, and to consult present ease, would be to sacrifice it perhaps…”

He pities the plumage, but forgets the dying bird.

The Aristocracy had hitherto opposed the despotism of the Court, and affected the language of patriotism; but it opposed it as its rival (as the English Barons opposed King John) and it now opposed the nation from the same motives.

But the spirit of the nation was not to be overcome, and it was so fully sensible of the strong ground it had taken--that of withholding taxes--that it contented itself with keeping up a sort of quiet resistance, which effectually…

But from such opposition the French Revolution, instead of suffering, receives an homage.