Because aristocracy has a tendency to deteriorate the human species.
Thomas Paine: “Because aristocracy has a tendency to deteriorate the human species.”
Editor's note · Context
In his critique of hereditary systems, Paine asserts that aristocracy inherently leads to the degradation of humanity.
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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.
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But the spirit of the nation was not to be overcome, and it was so fully sensible of the strong ground it had taken--that of withholding taxes--that it contented itself with keeping up a sort of quiet resistance, which effectually…
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