The despotic principles of the government were the same in both reigns, though the dispositions of the men were as remote as tyranny and benevolence.
Thomas Paine: “The despotic principles of the government were the same in both reigns, though the dispositions of the men were as…”
Editor's note · Context
Paine argues in "Rights of Man" that the fundamental despotic principles of the French government remained constant across different reigns, regardless of the individual monarch's character.
Share
More from Thomas Paine
I have carefully avoided to enlarge upon the subject, because I am inclined to believe that what is called the present ministry, wish to see contentions about religion kept up, to prevent the nation turning its attention to subjects of…
If, therefore, the good to be obtained be worthy of a passive, rational, and costless revolution, it would be bad policy to prefer waiting for a calamity that should force a violent one.
But as religion is very improperly made a political machine, and the reality of it is thereby destroyed, I will conclude this work with stating in what light religion appears to me.
I do not believe that any two men, on what are called doctrinal points, think alike who think at all.