It is no relief, but an aggravation to a person in slavery, to reflect that he was sold by his parent; and as that which heightens the criminality of an act cannot be produced to prove the legality of it, hereditary succession cannot be established as a legal thing.
In "Rights of Man," Paine uses the analogy of slavery to argue that hereditary succession, like being sold by a parent, cannot be legally justified.
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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.
It was Government dethroning Government; and the old one, by attempting to make a new one, made a chasm.
A knowledge of the practice was then joined to the theory; and all that was wanting to give it real existence was opportunity.
To account for this sudden transition, it is proper to observe that there are two distinct species of popularity; the one excited by merit, and the other by resentment.