Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: Either, therefore, government has arrived at its dotage, and requires to be renovated, or all the occasions for…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
Either, therefore, government has arrived at its dotage, and requires to be renovated, or all the occasions for exercising its wisdom have occurred.
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

In "Rights of Man," this quote presents a dilemma, suggesting that if government is not evolving, it is either stagnant or has exhausted its purpose.

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