Thomas Paine: “Her victories have received lustre from a greatness of lenity; and her laws been permitted to slumber, where they might…”

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

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.

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.

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