Writing as a military historian, I can point out every Decisive Moment in the important American wars; they are all different, but they are all the same in that in the time leading up to that moment, it is apparent to any rational, informed observer, that this time the jig is up.
Amazing the number of parallels to the present day.
Another thing that always amazed me about this essay was how modern so much of it sounds. Plain speaking, simple words, direct thoughts, rationally organized. The circumlocutions so often found in documents of the day are minimized here. Even the Declaration of Independence is not as easy to read as this essay. It’s brilliant. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I share your sentiment but I'm not sure how many in this country today could make it through the entire piece, let alone understand the import of his words.
it's very deliberately written in the Plain Style of its era. the register is a lot less formal than, say, the Founding Documents because they deliberately utilize a much more formal (even ceremonial) style. Paine's works (especially "Common Sense") weren't bestsellers for no reason.
I suppose these parallels, which are very real, exist because some of these questions were never settled in their time.
but the main takeaway for me every time I read Paine is that the greatest number of potential readers would have real difficulty with this very plain prose. most high school kids I'm exposed to today might be extremely "bright," but have received too much of their "training" as readers from screens. I know some very bright kids in their early twenties who are well-informed and well-read but can count the number of physical, printed-on-paper books in a codex format on one or two hands.
we've gone over this territory so many times (and it's LATE), there's no reason to do so again right now.
but thanks for the reminder of how it used to be, Tom.
“. . . servile, slavish, self-interested fear is the foundation of Toryism; and a man under such influence, though he may be cruel, never can be brave.” Tom Paine could have been referring to Trumpism, and the J6 crowd.
when I think of my father, who used to work on speeches for Stevenson in '52, confronting today's insane reality, my mind goes blank. he died at the right time, despite how missed he was and is.
"a noted [Tory], who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, "Well! give me peace in my day." Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace;" and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty."
And there we have as clear an explanation of the wish to *appease* a bully as one could want.
I haven't read that in almost 60 years. Didn't realize that some of it actually stuck in my head. We have it so easy today, even though we face a threat.
So glad I read beyond the first few paragraphs to find this gem near the end: "There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both." There are many more such thoughts. Read it all! Thanks, Tom.
“There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one.” We must continue to hold up the truth for others to see. We have the fortitude to see this through.
"...but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man"
TC, thank you so so much. It makes a difference to be reading this not as a clueless high schooler but as an adult facing our social and political Rubicon!!! You are right. We needed this at this time of heightened anxiety!!!
This describes Trump to a "T". I am eternally dumbfounded that so many in this country will mindlessly follow such "a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man."
"Yet panics, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. In fact, they have the same effect on secret traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world. Many a disguised Tory has lately shown his head, that shall penitentially solemnize with curses the day on which Howe arrived upon the Delaware."---------It's where we are at this moment as we've watched the great "sifting out" of those who'd squander their freedom to align with a power-hungry idiot. Looking at all the magas, especially that obsequious legacy weasel, Chris Sununu. They've been showing themselves, haven't they?
"There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both."
This applies to those who think somehow Trump will spare them from his wrath when he becomes dictator, that Putin will somehow grant clemency to Ukraine and its neighbors if we just give him what he wants. Capitulation is only an invitation for further violence in the pursuit of more power.
Amazing the number of parallels to the present day.
Another thing that always amazed me about this essay was how modern so much of it sounds. Plain speaking, simple words, direct thoughts, rationally organized. The circumlocutions so often found in documents of the day are minimized here. Even the Declaration of Independence is not as easy to read as this essay. It’s brilliant. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I share your sentiment but I'm not sure how many in this country today could make it through the entire piece, let alone understand the import of his words.
it's very deliberately written in the Plain Style of its era. the register is a lot less formal than, say, the Founding Documents because they deliberately utilize a much more formal (even ceremonial) style. Paine's works (especially "Common Sense") weren't bestsellers for no reason.
I suppose these parallels, which are very real, exist because some of these questions were never settled in their time.
but the main takeaway for me every time I read Paine is that the greatest number of potential readers would have real difficulty with this very plain prose. most high school kids I'm exposed to today might be extremely "bright," but have received too much of their "training" as readers from screens. I know some very bright kids in their early twenties who are well-informed and well-read but can count the number of physical, printed-on-paper books in a codex format on one or two hands.
we've gone over this territory so many times (and it's LATE), there's no reason to do so again right now.
but thanks for the reminder of how it used to be, Tom.
“. . . servile, slavish, self-interested fear is the foundation of Toryism; and a man under such influence, though he may be cruel, never can be brave.” Tom Paine could have been referring to Trumpism, and the J6 crowd.
Indeed yes.
he should only have known...
when I think of my father, who used to work on speeches for Stevenson in '52, confronting today's insane reality, my mind goes blank. he died at the right time, despite how missed he was and is.
"a noted [Tory], who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was prudent, finished with this unfatherly expression, "Well! give me peace in my day." Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace;" and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty."
And there we have as clear an explanation of the wish to *appease* a bully as one could want.
I haven't read that in almost 60 years. Didn't realize that some of it actually stuck in my head. We have it so easy today, even though we face a threat.
The last time I read this remarkable story was in history class, 1968.
I'm yet another one who'd never read the whole thing through. Now is the time and we are the people we've been waiting for.
So glad I read beyond the first few paragraphs to find this gem near the end: "There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both." There are many more such thoughts. Read it all! Thanks, Tom.
Ha! I referenced the very same passage in my initial post. IMO, it reflects our current situation.
Thank you, Tom! I really needed this tonight.
Very good medicine. Thank you, TC.
“There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one.” We must continue to hold up the truth for others to see. We have the fortitude to see this through.
So grateful for this community.
Thank you for this! It remains an inspiring and inspired piece we need to hold onto.
"...but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man"
TC, thank you so so much. It makes a difference to be reading this not as a clueless high schooler but as an adult facing our social and political Rubicon!!! You are right. We needed this at this time of heightened anxiety!!!
This describes Trump to a "T". I am eternally dumbfounded that so many in this country will mindlessly follow such "a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man."
Good one to pull out Tom. I haven't read it since high school, some time in the last century.
Thank you. I don’t think I have read the entire essay. Yes, it’s good medicine for us at this time.
"Yet panics, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them, and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered. In fact, they have the same effect on secret traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world. Many a disguised Tory has lately shown his head, that shall penitentially solemnize with curses the day on which Howe arrived upon the Delaware."---------It's where we are at this moment as we've watched the great "sifting out" of those who'd squander their freedom to align with a power-hungry idiot. Looking at all the magas, especially that obsequious legacy weasel, Chris Sununu. They've been showing themselves, haven't they?
I was struck by this passage:
"There are cases which cannot be overdone by language, and this is one. There are persons, too, who see not the full extent of the evil which threatens them; they solace themselves with hopes that the enemy, if he succeed, will be merciful. It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf, and we ought to guard equally against both."
This applies to those who think somehow Trump will spare them from his wrath when he becomes dictator, that Putin will somehow grant clemency to Ukraine and its neighbors if we just give him what he wants. Capitulation is only an invitation for further violence in the pursuit of more power.
Thank you. Tonight and always.
Thank you for this. Been a minute or two since I read this. Good medicine indeed.