Summary Of Common Sense By Paine
Common Sense
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil;” From the outset of Common Sense, Paine reveals his view on government as a cornerstone of his argument: America should challenge the British government and push for its independence. He asserts that governments are inherently evil, but yet ‘a necessary’ evil, to restrain the inevitable defects of human nature by enforcing the law upon fallible people. According to Paine, purpose of government is to benefit the society as a whole, and to ensure protection for people’s life and property. His develops his concept even further to reject the notion that the King has rights and authorities to rule the colonies, including America. The only condition for British …show more content…
The book was published in 1776, the time when most Americans were devout Christians and many of them still believed in the divine right of king to execute legitimate authorities over his people. Consequently, revolting against the king was akin to deny the God and customs they believed in. Paine, thereby, picks up a myriad of verses from the Bible to ensure the believers that their God, in fact, stands against the monarchy. Paine introduces the biblical origin of monarchy: the ancient Jews people who chose a king for themselves. Paine defines this as ‘a sin against God’, as they refuted the saying in the Bible that people have one and only God to rule over them. The first king, Paine continues, came to his throne “either by lot, by election, or by usurpation”. The quote directly counters the notion that the king is given his right from God, as well as challenging the hereditary succession of monarchy. He points out that all men are born equal, and no man, even the king, has any justifiable reason for passing his title onto his
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil;” From the outset of Common Sense, Paine reveals his view on government as a cornerstone of his argument: America should challenge the British government and push for its independence. He asserts that governments are inherently evil, but yet ‘a necessary’ evil, to restrain the inevitable defects of human nature by enforcing the law upon fallible people. According to Paine, purpose of government is to benefit the society as a whole, and to ensure protection for people’s life and property. His develops his concept even further to reject the notion that the King has rights and authorities to rule the colonies, including America. The only condition for British …show more content…
The book was published in 1776, the time when most Americans were devout Christians and many of them still believed in the divine right of king to execute legitimate authorities over his people. Consequently, revolting against the king was akin to deny the God and customs they believed in. Paine, thereby, picks up a myriad of verses from the Bible to ensure the believers that their God, in fact, stands against the monarchy. Paine introduces the biblical origin of monarchy: the ancient Jews people who chose a king for themselves. Paine defines this as ‘a sin against God’, as they refuted the saying in the Bible that people have one and only God to rule over them. The first king, Paine continues, came to his throne “either by lot, by election, or by usurpation”. The quote directly counters the notion that the king is given his right from God, as well as challenging the hereditary succession of monarchy. He points out that all men are born equal, and no man, even the king, has any justifiable reason for passing his title onto his