Common Sense
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 mother country 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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Public domain (US)·No sign-up·DRM-free·Real text, not scans
Copyright note. Common Sense by Thomas Paine is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading Common Sense in PDF or EPUB.
- Pages
- 62
- Reading time
- 1 hour 52 minutes
- Pace
- Intermediate
- First published
- 1776
- Language
- English
- Downloads
- 2,539
250 years later, still timely
Why Read Common Sense in 2026?
A pamphlet that lit a continent. Paine writes politics like a neighbor explaining a fix, stripping pretension to argue for self-government. It’s brisk, bracing, and still a masterclass in public persuasion.
Today's connection
Great for civics clubs, classrooms, and anyone asking how ideas mobilize people. Clear language remains revolutionary.
Plain-spoken power
Arguments anyone can use.
Nation by design
Imagining structures anew.
Liberty & duty
Rights with responsibilities.
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About the author
Thomas Paine
Plain style arguments for liberty, rights, and civic courage that still cut through noise.
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From Common Sense
Time makes more converts than reason.
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.
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.
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.
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.