In whatever light hereditary succession, as growing out of the will and testament of some former generation, presents itself, it is an absurdity.
Thomas Paine: “In whatever light hereditary succession, as growing out of the will and testament of some former generation, presents…”
Editor's note · Context
In "Rights of Man," Paine dismisses hereditary succession, when viewed as the will of a past generation, as an inherent absurdity.
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When men unite in agreeing that a thing is good, could it be obtained, such for instance as relief from a burden of taxes and the extinction of corruption, the object is more than half accomplished.
Why may we not suppose, that the great Father of all is pleased with variety of devotion; and that the greatest offence we can act, is that by which we seek to torment and render each other miserable?
But as religion is very improperly made a political machine, and the reality of it is thereby destroyed, I will conclude this work with stating in what light religion appears to me.