It frequently happens that in proportion as we are taught to dislike persons and countries, not knowing why, we feel an ardor of esteem upon the removal of the mistake: it seems as if something was to be made amends for, and we eagerly give in to every office of friendship, to atone for the injury of the error.
Thomas Paine: “It frequently happens that in proportion as we are taught to dislike persons and countries, not knowing why, we feel an…”
Editor's note · Context
Paine observes that when baseless prejudices against people or nations are dispelled, a strong desire for friendship often emerges to compensate for past error.
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