Thomas Paine: “The opinions of men with respect to government are changing fast in all countries.”

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

To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.

The Aristocracy had hitherto opposed the despotism of the Court, and affected the language of patriotism; but it opposed it as its rival (as the English Barons opposed King John) and it now opposed the nation from the same motives.

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