The final controlling power, therefore, and the original constituting power, are one and the same power.
Thomas Paine: “The final controlling power, therefore, and the original constituting power, are one and the same power.”
Editor's note · Context
Paine concludes that the ultimate controlling authority and the initial power to establish government are fundamentally identical.
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As to what are called national religions, we may, with as much propriety, talk of national Gods.
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.
I have carefully avoided to enlarge upon the subject, because I am inclined to believe that what is called the present ministry, wish to see contentions about religion kept up, to prevent the nation turning its attention to subjects of…