Knowing my own heart and feeling myself as I now do, superior to all the skirmish of party, the inveteracy of interested or mistaken opponents, I answer not to falsehood or abuse, but proceed to the defects of the English Government.
In "Rights of Man," Paine declares his intention to rise above partisan disputes and address the fundamental flaws of the English government.
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He writes neither in the character of a Frenchman nor an Englishman, but in the fawning character of that creature known in all countries, and a friend to none--a courtier.
The more it is struck the more sparks it will emit; and the fear is it will not be struck enough.
In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.