Title page from The Writings of Thomas Paine, Vol. II (1779-1792)

Part of: The Writings of Thomas Paine, 4 vols. The Writings of Thomas Paine, Vol. II (1779-1792)

Vol. 2 of a 4 vol. collection of the works of Thomas Paine. Vol. 2 (1779-1792) contains the Letter to Abbey Raynal, Dissertations on Government, The Rights of Man (1 and 2) and various articles.

Key Quotes

Origin of Government

It is impossible that such governments as have hitherto existed in the world, could have commenced by any other means than a total violation of every principle sacred and moral. The obscurity in which the origin of all the present old governments is buried, implies the iniquity and disgrace with…

Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots

We have heard the Rights of Man called a levelling system; but the only system to which the word levelling is truly applicable, is the hereditary monarchical system. It is a system of mental levelling. It indiscriminately admits every species of character to the same authority. Vice and virtue,…