Thomas Paine

It is very inspiring reading some of Thomas Paine’s quotes. I can see the passion he had in making a new nation away from Britain.  It was interesting how he described how it was possible to make a new nation and comparing it to the story of Noah. How he explained they were similar situations, it was quite understandable for me to compare those two. It is a good comparison, and it is encouraging to help people know that making a new nation is possible. Some of his quotes were very encouraging, and while reading them I began to feel proud that I live in this nation and how I have this equal right, and independence, instead of being reigned by a king. To me it is a privilege and an honor to have these opportunities to have our freedom of speech and our rights, compared to many other counties.

I see Thomas Paine as one of the big figures in America, just like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and others, because he gave us the push, the encouragement, and inspired us to make this change and separate from Britain. I think without his knowledge and his words it would have taken longer for us as people to separate from Britain, either because we did not think about it, or because we were simply just too scared to fight against the king at the time. Thomas Paine did sell 100,000 copies, so it is not unreasonable to think that he inspired and encouraged many people to go through with the actions. His quotes had me think and touched me, his quotes were not influencing, but he had you make your own opinion about certain situations, and make you want to act out on it.

My favorite quote of his that I read was “For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have the right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever, and tho' himself might deserve some decent degree of honours of his cotemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them.”  (goodreads.com). I think it’s great that we have the opportunity to decide our own future, and have equal opportunity as everyone else. During that time it is true that it was no fair to man no to have the same opportunities as the rich, because we cannot decide what family to be born into. As of now and the past we just accept the family we are born into despite not being able to pick them, and we go through the difficulties and continue living. Being able to have equal opportunities unlike the past sort of makes living more encouraging knowing that we have the power to determine our lives, unlike the past lives were already planned for you since birth. I believe people today take for granted the equal opportunities we have, and do not appreciate what freedom they have compared to other countries. People now do not take advantage of the opportunities given to them. Knowing our past what was given to us we as a nation should acknowledge them more and be appreciated of them, as well as appreciating Thomas Paine for that push to become the nation we are today.