Friday Philosophy

Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was one of the key figures in the fight for American independence, and a forceful supporter of this country's basic principles. That is evident in this passage from his essay The Rights of Man:"

"The rights of men in society, are neither
devisable or transferable, nor annihilable,
but are descended only, and it is not in the
power of any generation to intercept finally,
and cut off the descent. If the present
generation, or any other, are disposed
to be slaves, it does not lessen the right
of the succeeding generation to be free."