“In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion.”

English-born American political thinker, inventor, and statesman

Thomas Paine was an English-born American political thinker, inventor, and statesman of the 18th century. He helped shape the American Revolution and is best known for the pamphlets Common Sense and The American Crisis. Those writings were among the most influential texts at the start of the Revolution, and they helped encourage colonial patriots to declare independence from Great Britain in 1776. His ideas were rooted in Enlightenment ideals of human rights, which run through his political writing.