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Common Sense is an essay written by Thomas Paine and published in 1776, during the American Revolution.
The essay, revolutionary and incendiary in its time, takes a stand against British rule at a time when the independence issue was still generating rejection among the settlers. Thomas Paine's position exerted a great influence on American public opinion during the Revolutionary War. Thomas Paine defended in this essay that the sole purpose of the metropolis was to exploit the riches of the colonies without providing them with any compensation.
It was published as a brochure in plain language, so that the message could reach and be understood by everyone. It was inspired by the sermons of the Bible and its structure to motivate the reader, connecting independence with the Protestant faith as an American political identity.
Initially published anonymously, it was a resounding success in the United States, selling over 100,000 copies of the book in its first few months.
This digital edition of the book Common Sense is based in this original edition: Philadelphia Printed and sold by W. and T. Bradford, February 14, 1776
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Common Sense by Thomas Paine is believed to be out of copyright restrictions only in the United States. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not located in the United States, you must check your local laws to make sure that the contents of this eBook are free from copyright restrictions in the country where you are located in before downloading Common Sense in PDF or ePub.
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Thomas Paine was an English-born American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. His ideas reflected Enlightenmen...
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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 defense of custom.
Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.
Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent; selected from the rest of mankind their minds are early poisoned by importance.
For as we are never in a proper condition of doing justice to others, while we continue under the influence of some leading partiality, so neither are we capable of doing it to ourselves while we remain fettered by any obstinate prejudice.