Both above-mentioned quotes come from one man! One of the founding fathers of the USA Thomas Paine and his pamphlet “Common Sense.
COMMON SENSE pamphlet has been published in 1776, advocating the independence of American colonies from Britain. At the time, it was published anonymously, being an absolute surprise awakening awareness of THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, TO THE PEOPLE.
Thomas Paine, used simple, common sense language, which is actually a medicine for our manipulated soul, like than like today.
This pamphlet gives the opportunity to the reader, apart from awakening ( due to the language used and the ideas presented), to understand and realize the beauty of human mind as well as to learn practical, simple facts about society, government, and political ideas. About how the system is formed and how it should work. In short, to learn more about ourselves, as we were and are the ones that made it.
It also can teach how to elaborate and present our case, any case, as it is sincere and truthful, with those two ingredients being the basis of every virtue.
You can agree or disagree with the thoughts presented, but all of us should respect them.
Printed on 10/01/1776 in Philadelphia, it had a conscious impact on the minds of the people then and there, and it is still current, as someone said that in todays world the ”common sense is not so common,” and it needs refreshing, sometimes at least!
It was followed by the Continental Congress Declaration of Independence on 4/7/1776.
The pamphlet contains many simple, clear minded quotes, being the normal result for the pamphlet having the title “Common sense.” You can enjoy some of them below with warm, genuine human recommendation to read the whole pamphlet by yourself.
And it goes:
About society
“Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former
promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our
vices. First is a patron, last a punisher “
About Simplicity
“The more simple anything is, the less liable it is to be disordered, and the easier repaired when disordered.”
And about men’s characters
“When I was teaching children, I began every day writing this on the blackboard: “Do to others what you would like them to do to you”, telling them how much better the world would be if everybody lived by this rule.”
And
“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; and the world they act in differs so materially from the world at large, that they have, but little opportunity of knowing its true interests, and when they succeed to the government are frequently the most ignorant and unfit of any throughout the dominions.”
We could say that Thomas Paine shared the thoughts of Dragonetti on Virtue and Rewards:
“ The science of the politician consists in fixing the true point of happiness and freedom. Those men would deserve the gratitude of ages, who should discover a mode of government that contained the greatest sum of individual happiness with the least national expense “
After coming from Paris and experiencing the French Revolution he wrote another book with his article titled ” The Rights of Man,” where in short, he shared his belief in the ability of ordinary men to make their decisions by themselves. Let me share a quote from there which is self-explanatory.
“When it can be said by any country in the world, my poor are happy, neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them, my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars, the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive, the rational world is my friend because I am the friend of happiness. When these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and government. Independence is my happiness, the world is my country and my religion is to do good.”
Such noble aims of Thomas Paine should not be forgotten at any time when humanity faces challenges. Our time, indeed, is included.
And again, from “Common sense”
Does it look familiar?
“ Our present condition, is, legislation without law; wisdom without a plan; constitution without the name; and, what is strangely astonishing, perfect Independence contending for dependence…. The property of no man is secure in the present unbraced system of things. The mind of the multitude is left at random, and feeling no fixed object before them, they pursue such as fancy or opinion starts. Nothing is criminal; there is no such thing as treason; wherefore, everyone thinks himself at liberty to act as he pleases. “
The plan was
“Our plan is peace forever.”!!!!
It looks like it was a great plan, which stayed as plan, unfortunately! Ask your self WHY?!
Quite some time has passed, and if time takes more converts, then the reason that we should be now at peace as a planet. Or at least strive towards it. ARE WE? If it is the opposite then we should cherish, protect, and promote personalities who's main idea is to make the atmosphere where eternal peace will rule the world!
P.S.
To make it more interesting for readers, let me do some SIMPLE mathematics and play with numbers!
Date of publishing the pamphlet “Common Sense”
10/01/1776 = 10+1+1+7+7+6 = 32 or 3+2 = 5
Date of the Declaration of Independence
04/07/1776 = 4+7+1+7+7+6 = 32 or 3+2 = 5
Number 5 presenting
“Pater omnis thelesmi totius mundi est hic”
Or translated
“It is Thelesma, the father of the whole world”
Béla Hamvas “TABULA SMARAGDINA”
The beauty about these writings would be if you, the readers research further and rediscover your own common sense free of any bias you might have…. That would be the success, not only for you, but for all of us.
Do not forget or if you did not think about it learn that BEING A HUMAN IS TO PROTECT OTHERS FROM OURSELVES.
5/4/2023
"Do to others what you would like them to do to you"
As one of our common friends said: "U were always ahead of your time, and definitely not a follower...Its d truth; not a compliment." And I couldnt agree more!