In America it is considered as an absurdity; and in France it has so far declined, that the goodness of the man, and the respect for his personal character, are the only things that preserve the appearance of its existence.
Paine contrasts America's outright rejection of monarchy with France's conditional acceptance, where the institution's survival depends solely on the monarch's personal character.
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The Aristocracy had hitherto opposed the despotism of the Court, and affected the language of patriotism; but it opposed it as its rival (as the English Barons opposed King John) and it now opposed the nation from the same motives.
A knowledge of the practice was then joined to the theory; and all that was wanting to give it real existence was opportunity.
In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.