In a general view, there are few conquests that repay the charge of making them, and mankind are pretty well convinced that it can never be worth their while to go to war for profit's sake.
From "The American Crisis," Paine argues against the economic viability of war and conquest.
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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.
In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.