But for England to receive any thing from America now, after so many insults, injuries and outrages, acted towards us, would show such a spirit of meanness in her, that we could not but despise her for accepting it.
From "The American Crisis," this passage argues that for England to accept anything from America after the war would demonstrate a profound lack of self-respect.
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More from Thomas Paine
To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.
In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.
Nothing can be more terrible to a Court or Courtier than the Revolution of France.
It was Government dethroning Government; and the old one, by attempting to make a new one, made a chasm.