Common Sense
#1045 of 2,654 all-time
Common Sense
Thomas Paine
7 people recommended it in 3 threads, 2010–2021.
What people on Hacker News said
Common Sense was "the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era."
Government by kings was first introduced into the world by the Heathens, from whom the children of Israel copied the custom. It was the most prosperous invention the Devil ever set on foot for the promotion of idolatry.
Monarchy is ranked in scripture as one of the sins of the Jews, for which a curse in reserve is denounced against them. The history of that transaction is worth attending to.
And a man hath good reason to believe that there is as much of kingcraft as priestcraft in withholding the scripture from the public in popish countries. For monarchy in every instance is the popery of government.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2021? 2021 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books? 2010 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's one book that changed your life? 2018 · 1 recommendation