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The Anglo-American
writer and political theorist Thomas Paine (1737-1809) boldly spoke
out for social and political reforms, and played an active role in
the American War of Independence. In his great and highly influential
pamphlet Common Sense, published in January 1776, was the
first bold, explicit assault on monarchical rule, and the first
advocacy of the American colonies' independence from Britain. Written
in clear language, Common Sense laid out how an independent
government could be established and controlled by the people, and how
rich and poor alike could share equally in privileges and duties. It
was Paine's enlightened contention that in order to ensure liberty,
no special preferments should be attached to any one religious sect,
but that religious diversity should be respected.
PERHAPS
the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet
sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit
of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial
appearance of being right and raises at first a formidable
outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes
more converts than reason.
As
a long and violent abuse of power is generally the means of calling
the right of it in question, (and in matters too which might never
have been thought of, had not the sufferers been aggravated into the
inquiry,) and as the king of England hath undertaken in his own
right, to support the parliament in what he calls theirs
and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by
the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the
pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpations of
either.
In the
following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing
which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to
individuals make no part thereof. The wise and the worthy need not
the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious
or unfriendly, will cease of themselves, unless too much pains is
bestowed upon their conversion.
The
cause of America is, in a great measure, the cause of all mankind.
Many circumstances have, and will arise, which are not local, but
universal, and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind
are affected, and in the event of which, their affections are
interested. The laying a country desolate with fire and sword,
declaring war against the natural rights of all mankind, and
extirpating the defenders thereof from the face of the earth, is the
concern of every man whom nature hath given the power of feeling; of
which class, regardless of party censure, is
THE
AUTHOR
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 14, 1776.
Published 1995
by Prometheus Books
John Glenn Drive, Amherst, New York
716-691-0133. FAX: 716-691-0137
Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Pub
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809.
Common sense I
Thomas Paine.
p. cm.—(Great books in philosophy) Originally
published: New York: Wiley Book
ISBN 0-87975-918-6 (paper)
1.
United States—Politics and government— science—History—l8th
century. 3. Monarchy. I E211.P1455 1994
320.973—dc20
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