Quote by Thomas Paine: “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst, intolerable.”

This statement argues that government is a practical necessity, but inherently carries the potential for corruption and oppression. It suggests that while some form of order is needed, unchecked power can easily lead to tyranny and suffering for the people.

Published just before the Declaration of Independence, Common Sense was crucial in persuading colonists to seek full independence from British rule, critiquing monarchy and advocating for self-governance.

English-born American political activist, philosopher, and revolutionary whose pamphlets Common Sense and The American Crisis were hugely influential in building support for American independence. He later supported the French Revolution and wrote The Age of Reason.