[On Christmas Day 1776, George Washington had Paine’s first essay read to his dispirited soldiers to boost moral. Shortly afterward the energized soldiers — emboldened by Paine’s words — launched a surprise attack on unsuspecting Hessians and won the decisive battle of Trenton.]
THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
Thomas Paine, Dec 23, 1776
Thomas Paine wielded the language in the way Michaelangelo wielded the hammer and chisel.
It would seem that Paine was familiar with Shakespeare’s “Henry V” and the Saint Crispin’s day soliloquy (‘we few, we happy few’). It’s not a copy or plagiarism, of course, but it has similar pacing, feel and meaning.
We are in those times right now.
I agree, Paine had a unique and beautiful command of the language.
The antique usage in English is why I love the King James Version of the Bible.
We are indeed in those times now.
Yes we are, and it feels way worse, as in we have everything to lose, and very little to gain, but, what we do have, to gain is the whole World....