Tango01 | 25 May 2018 3:47 p.m. PST |
"Thomas Paine was a paradoxical man. As the author of three major texts – Common Sense, Rights of Man and Age of Reason – Thomas Paine was a revolutionary, best-selling author. However, until his late-found success, Paine had seemed destined to die an abject failure. He was a pensive philosopher who could rouse men to take up arms in the cause of liberty. A deeply religious man who was widely condemned as an atheist and blasphemer. An advocate of peace, stability and order who lived a disordered life intertwined with insurrection and rebellion…." Main page link Amicalement Armand
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Winston Smith | 25 May 2018 4:10 p.m. PST |
He was what every Revolution needs. A propagandist and pamphleteer. While retreating with Washington, he penned the immortal words "These are the times that try men's souls." Common Sense gave the philosophical justification. The Crisis was a rallying cry to rescue the cause from despair. After that he was no longer needed. |
charared | 25 May 2018 4:26 p.m. PST |
After that he was no longer needed. Until he got to Paris. |
foxweasel | 25 May 2018 4:37 p.m. PST |
A very clever, thoughtful and insightful man. I don't think he's a forgotten founding father, any more than most of the signatories of the declaration. Some would call him a low life traitor. |
Ironwolf | 25 May 2018 4:52 p.m. PST |
"pamphleteer" hahaha, I'm stilling that word. |
charared | 25 May 2018 7:24 p.m. PST |
…Some would call him a low life traitor. And some would call him an insightful, prophetic Brit who foresaw a future of liberated folks determining their own fate free from despots and the "Divine Right" of "Kings". Thank G-d for Brits like him, Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams etc. for showing the way to the modern world. |
goragrad | 25 May 2018 8:17 p.m. PST |
His domestic arrangements would seem to argue against the religious claim. But then I suppose that as he rejected any organized religion his definition of moral behavior would pretty much be up to him. Still and all an influential Father of the Revolution. |
charared | 25 May 2018 8:34 p.m. PST |
But then I suppose that as he rejected any organized religion his definition of moral behavior would pretty much be up to him. As did MANY of the USA's "Founding Fathers". Strange that they blazed a path to the modern world with acknowledged freedoms and social structures befitting liberated peoples who are free from rigid religious dogma and strictures. They were "imperfect"? YES. THEY were "HUMAN"… Still and all an influential Father of the Revolution. No. Still and all an influential Father of… REVOLUTION!!! |
Ironwolf | 25 May 2018 8:36 p.m. PST |
"His domestic arrangements would seem to argue against the religious claim." I'd say he was more of a spiritual fellow than a religious man, as in the type that did not follow an organized religion. But I had read that some? Maybe a few or more? of our founding fathers were Deists. In the meaning they believed in God, just did not believe God had any interaction with humans. "I'm stilling that word." Seriously, how did I miss spell Stealing??? lol |
Vigilant | 26 May 2018 4:18 a.m. PST |
HM Customs and Excise operated out of a building called Thomas Paine House. There quotes of his on the walls in the canteen. Always surprised me when I ran courses there that given his political background he featured in a government building. Great canteen though! |
Pythagoras | 27 May 2018 6:54 a.m. PST |
He was the ultimate rabble rouser. He thought a lot of his own superiority. Only he could have done what he did. He avoided the noose a few times by being fast on his feet as well quick of mind. |