Thomas Paine: “What is called the splendour of a throne is no other than the corruption of the state.”

Natural rights are those which appertain to man in right of his existence.

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.

He must now show that every one in the line of hereditary succession was a Solomon, or his title is not good to be a king.

A knowledge of the practice was then joined to the theory; and all that was wanting to give it real existence was opportunity.