But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered.
Thomas Paine: “But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to…”
Editor's note · Context
This passage describes how moments of widespread fear and uncertainty reveal the true character of individuals.
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In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.
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.
The thing, in many points, contained better principles than those upon which the Government had hitherto been administered; but with respect to the Cour Pleniere, it was no other than a medium through which despotism was to pass, without…
It has nothing to dread from attacks; truth has given it an establishment, and time will record it with a name as lasting as his own.