Thomas Paine: “The politics of Britain, so far as respected America, were originally conceived in idiotism, and acted in madness.”

The more it is struck the more sparks it will emit; and the fear is it will not be struck enough.

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.

When it becomes necessary to do anything, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it.

But the spirit of the nation was not to be overcome, and it was so fully sensible of the strong ground it had taken--that of withholding taxes--that it contented itself with keeping up a sort of quiet resistance, which effectually…