Thomas Paine: “Principles must stand on their own merits, and if they are good they certainly will.”

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

The more it is struck the more sparks it will emit; and the fear is it will not be struck enough.

The argument changes from hereditary rights to hereditary wisdom; and the question is, Who is the wisest man?

He must now show that every one in the line of hereditary succession was a Solomon, or his title is not good to be a king.