Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: While drunk with the certainty of victory, they disdained to be civil; and in proportion as disappointment makes them…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1776
While drunk with the certainty of victory, they disdained to be civil; and in proportion as disappointment makes them sober, and their apprehensions of an European war alarm them, they will become cringing and artful; honest they cannot be.
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

In "The American Crisis," Paine describes the British enemy's shift from arrogance to desperation as their military prospects decline.

Share

More from Thomas Paine

Jan 1, 1791

The American constitutions were to liberty what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1791

War is their trade, plunder and revenue their objects.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1791

A constitution is not a thing in name only, but in fact.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1791

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.

gutenberg.org