Common Sense

I am reading Thomas Paine’s Common Sense for the first time. Such lovely 18th century prose, such clear thinking, such high expectations of the reader. I was struck by the fact that he backs all of his arguments, against monarchy for example, with quotes from scripture. He relies on the cultural knowledge and belief in the Bible of his readers to make his points, not only clear, but irrefutable. This was the foundation of our Republic. How far we have fallen.