Thomas Paine: “Her victories have received lustre from a greatness of lenity; and her laws been permitted to slumber, where they might…”

Many of the facts were in themselves principles; such as the declaration of American Independence, and the treaty of alliance between France and America, which recognised the natural rights of man, and justified resistance to oppression.

It was a sort of new form of government that insensibly served to put the old one out of sight and to unhinge it from the superstitious authority of antiquity.

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

A knowledge of the practice was then joined to the theory; and all that was wanting to give it real existence was opportunity.