Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: Howe's business is to conquer it, and in proportion as he finds himself unable to the task, he will employ his strength…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1776
Howe's business is to conquer it, and in proportion as he finds himself unable to the task, he will employ his strength to distress women and weak minds, in order to accomplish through their fears what he cannot accomplish by his own force.
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

In "The American Crisis," Paine describes the British general Howe's strategy of using fear to compensate for military weakness.

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