On the recordJanuary 1, 1776
Nature, in the arrangement of mankind, has fitted some for every service in life: were all soldiers, all would starve and go naked, and were none soldiers, all would be slaves.
Said by
Thomas Paine
Source
gutenberg.orgThomas Paine: “Nature, in the arrangement of mankind, has fitted some for every service in life: were all soldiers, all would starve…”
Editor's note · Context
Paine argues that society requires a diversity of skills and roles, including both civilian and military contributions, for its survival and freedom.
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Jan 1, 1791
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?
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Reason and discussion, persuasion and conviction, become the weapons in the contest, and it is only when those are attempted to be suppressed that recourse is had to violence.
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Discussion and the general will arbitrates the question, and to this, private opinion yields with a good grace, and order is preserved uninterrupted.