"It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man." - The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776
This quote by Thomas Paine says just as much about the traitors of freedom today as it did in his own time.
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This quote by Thomas Paine says just as much about the traitors of freedom today as it did in his own time.
Indeed it does. Because they're all cut from the exact same cloth. It also says as much about the patriots and statesmen of today as it did back then. Because, well, the selfsame principle applies there too.
As is mentioned elsewhere, "we're in a new phase of a very old war."
SR - first, an apology. I read this last Friday while at work, and intended to come back afterward for a second read.
But life is what happens to you while you're making other plans - and I didn't back until tonight.
I apologize because a post this significant deserves approbation - Mr. Paine was a wise man, and I thank you for shedding light on another portion of his writing.
Terry,
A very old war indeed. I really cannot believe that the freest people in history have willingly thrown it away. The greatest tragedy about it is that it is a mindless, passivist minority that has gotten us to this point and a base that got comfortable and was lulled into it like a siren's trap. They have realized it now, at least, and are mobilizing; I just hope it is not too late.
Rev. Paul,
I completely understand about the life thing; as you can see mine has kept me from posting as frequently as I would like.
When I read this I was excited; the fact that the Founding Fathers who lived in times that many today consider out dated, obsolete, primitive there were men who had more knowledge and intelligence than most of our experts of today put together. They were ahead of their times and a God send for us today; I believe God knew we would need their encouragement and knowledge in these dark hours of our Republic.
Imagine my surprise when I read that it was Paine, and not another current day blogger voicing frustration and a call to action against the federal gummint! We have come full circle, and stand now at a turning point in our little experiment... do we perservere or were we merely a glimmer of hope in a sea of perpetual tyranny?
It is amazing how history always repeats itself and yet man never catches on. Those who do are labeled every hateful thing under the sun.
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