Thomas Paine: “Every generation is equal in rights to generations which preceded it, by the same rule that every individual is born…”

As to what are called national religions, we may, with as much propriety, talk of national Gods.

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.

Long experience however has shown, that reforms of this kind are not those which old governments wish to promote, and therefore it is to nations, and not to such governments, that these matters present themselves.

Where these can have the opportunity of acting, opposition dies with fear, or crumbles away by conviction.