Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: The Parliament of 1688 might as well have passed an act to have authorised themselves to live for ever, as to make their…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
The Parliament of 1688 might as well have passed an act to have authorised themselves to live for ever, as to make their authority live for ever.
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

In "Rights of Man," Paine uses an analogy to highlight the illogical nature of one generation's legislature attempting to bind all future generations.

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