Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: All the conquest that a besieged town can hope for, is, not to be conquered; and compelling an enemy to raise the siege…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1776
All the conquest that a besieged town can hope for, is, not to be conquered; and compelling an enemy to raise the siege, is to the besieged a victory.
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

In "The American Crisis," Paine defines victory for a besieged town not as conquest, but as successfully resisting capture and forcing the enemy to withdraw.

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