If the crimes of men were exhibited with their sufferings, stage effect would sometimes be lost, and the audience would be inclined to approve where it was intended they should commiserate.
Thomas Paine: “If the crimes of men were exhibited with their sufferings, stage effect would sometimes be lost, and the audience would…”
Editor's note · Context
Paine observes that presenting the full context of human actions, including both crimes and sufferings, can alter audience perception and undermine intended emotional responses.
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