The mind of the nation was acted upon by a higher stimulus than what the consideration of persons could inspire, and sought a higher conquest than co… - Thomas Paine

It appears to general observation, that revolutions create genius and talents; but those events do no more than bring them forward. There is existing in man, a mass of sense lying in a dormant state, and which, unless something excites it to action, will descend with him, in that condition, to the grave. As it is to the advantage of society that the whole of its faculties should be employed, the construction of governments ought to be such as to bring forward, by a quiet and regular operation, all that extent of capacity which never fails to appear in revolutions.

Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil;

A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.