Thomas Paine: “We form one common floor of public good, and, whatever is our charge, it is paid for our own interest and upon our own…”

There ought, therefore, to be in every nation a method of occasionally ascertaining the state of public opinion with respect to government.

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

But as religion is very improperly made a political machine, and the reality of it is thereby destroyed, I will conclude this work with stating in what light religion appears to me.

When all the governments of Europe shall be established on the representative system, nations will become acquainted, and the animosities and prejudices fomented by the intrigue and artifice of courts, will cease.