Thomas Paine: “The putting any individual as a figure for a nation is improper.”

The object, in all such preliminary proceedings, is to find out what the general sense of a nation is, and to be governed by it.

Nations, like individuals, who have long been enemies, without knowing each other, or knowing why, become the better friends when they discover the errors and impositions under which they had acted.

The horrid scene that is now acting by the English government in the East-Indies, is fit only to be told of Goths and Vandals, who, destitute of principle, robbed and tortured the world they were incapable of enjoying.

Peace, which costs nothing, is attended with infinitely more advantage, than any victory with all its expense.