http://www.wordnik.com/lists/prosie-the-crisis.xml By Thomas Paine. Published on December 23, 1776 (later published as The American Crisis). Posted here as excerpts, not in entirety.<br /><br />THESE are the times that try men's souls. The <a href="/words/summer soldier">summer soldier</a> and the <a href="/words/sunshine patriot">sunshine patriot</a> will, in this <a href="/words/crisis">crisis</a>, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. <a href="/words/Tyranny">Tyranny</a>, like hell, is not easily <a href="/words/conquered">conquered</a>; yet we have this consolation with us, that the <a href="/words/harder">harder</a> the <a href="/words/conflict">conflict</a>, the more <a href="/words/glorious">glorious</a> the <a href="/words/triumph">triumph</a>. What we obtain too <a href="/words/cheap">cheap</a>, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. <a href="/words/Heaven">Heaven</a> knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so <a href="/words/celestial">celestial</a> an article as <a href="/words/FREEDOM">FREEDOM</a> should not be highly rated....<br /><br />I once felt all that kind of <a href="/words/anger">anger</a>, which a man ought to feel, against the mean principles that are held by the Tories: a noted one, who kept a tavern at Amboy, was standing at his door, with as pretty a child in his hand, about eight or nine years old, as I ever saw, and after speaking his mind as freely as he thought was <a href="/words/prudent">prudent</a>, finished with this <a href="/words/unfatherly">unfatherly</a> expression, "Well! give me <a href="/words/peace">peace</a> in my day." Not a man lives on the continent but fully believes that a separation must some time or other finally take place, and a generous parent should have said, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace;" and this single <a href="/words/reflection">reflection</a>, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to <a href="/words/duty">duty</a>. Not a place upon earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the <a href="/words/wrangling">wrangling</a> world, and she has nothing to do but to trade with them. A man can distinguish himself between temper and principle, and I am as confident, as I am that God governs the world, that America will never be happy till she gets clear of foreign <a href="/words/dominion">dominion</a>. Wars, without ceasing, will break out till that period arrives, and the continent must in the end be <a href="/words/conqueror">conqueror</a>; for though the <a href="/words/flame of liberty">flame of liberty</a> may sometimes cease to <a href="/words/shine">shine</a>, the <a href="/words/coal">coal</a> can never <a href="/words/expire">expire</a>.<br /><br />America did not, nor does not want force; but she wanted a proper application of that force....<br /><br />I turn with the warm <a href="/words/ardor">ardor</a> of a friend to those who have <a href="/words/nobly">nobly</a> stood, and are yet determined to stand the matter out: I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state: up and help us; lay your shoulders to the []wheel; better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the <a href="/words/depth">depth</a> of winter, when nothing but hope and <a href="/words/virtue">virtue</a> could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to <a href="/words/repulse">repulse</a> it. Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but "show your faith by your works," that God may bless you. It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the <a href="/words/evil">evil</a> or the <a href="/words/blessing">blessing</a> will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his <a href="/words/cowardice">cowardice</a>, who <a href="/words/shrinks">shrinks</a> back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow <a href="/words/brave">brave</a> by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual <a href="/words/villain">villain</a>, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other. Let them call me <a href="/words/rebel">rebel</a> and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a <a href="/words/whore">whore</a> of my soul by swearing <a href="/words/allegiance">allegiance</a> to one whose character is that of a <a href="/words/sottish">sottish</a>, stupid, stubborn, worthless, <a href="/words/brutish">brutish</a> man. I conceive likewise a <a href="/words/horrid">horrid</a> idea in receiving mercy from a being, who at the last day shall be <a href="/words/shrieking">shrieking</a> to the rocks and mountains to cover him, and <a href="/words/fleeing">fleeing</a> with <a href="/words/terror">terror</a> from the <a href="/words/orphan">orphan</a>, the <a href="/words/widow">widow</a>, and the <a href="/words/slain">slain</a> of America....<br /><br />I thank God, that I fear not. I see no real cause for fear. I know our situation well, and can see the way out of it.... This is our situation, and who will may know it. By perseverance and fortitude we have the prospect of a glorious issue; by cowardice and submission, the sad choice of a variety of evils — a <a href="/words/ravaged">ravaged</a> country — a depopulated city — habitations without safety, and slavery without hope — our homes turned into barracks and <a href="/words/bawdy-houses">bawdy-houses</a> for Hessians, and a future race to provide for, whose fathers we shall doubt of. Look on this picture and weep over it! and if there yet remains one thoughtless <a href="/words/wretch">wretch</a> who believes it not, let him suffer it <a href="/words/unlamented">unlamented</a>. http://www.wordnik.com http://www.wordnik.com/words/summer soldier Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:35 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/summer soldier http://www.wordnik.com/words/sunshine patriot Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:31 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/sunshine patriot http://www.wordnik.com/words/crisis Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/crisis http://www.wordnik.com/words/tyranny Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/tyranny http://www.wordnik.com/words/conquered Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:17 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/conquered http://www.wordnik.com/words/harder Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:14 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/harder http://www.wordnik.com/words/conflict Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:12 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/conflict http://www.wordnik.com/words/glorious Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:03 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/glorious http://www.wordnik.com/words/triumph Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:08:01 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/triumph http://www.wordnik.com/words/cheap Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:59 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/cheap http://www.wordnik.com/words/heaven Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:58 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/heaven http://www.wordnik.com/words/celestial Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:46 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/celestial http://www.wordnik.com/words/freedom Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:42 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/freedom http://www.wordnik.com/words/anger Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/anger http://www.wordnik.com/words/prudent Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/prudent http://www.wordnik.com/words/unfatherly Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:30 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/unfatherly http://www.wordnik.com/words/peace Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:27 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/peace http://www.wordnik.com/words/duty Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/duty http://www.wordnik.com/words/wrangling Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:17 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wrangling http://www.wordnik.com/words/dominion Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:14 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/dominion http://www.wordnik.com/words/conqueror Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:06 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/conqueror http://www.wordnik.com/words/flame of liberty Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:07:04 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/flame of liberty http://www.wordnik.com/words/shine Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:59 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/shine http://www.wordnik.com/words/coal Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:58 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/coal http://www.wordnik.com/words/expire Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:49 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/expire http://www.wordnik.com/words/ardor Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/ardor http://www.wordnik.com/words/nobly Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:45 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/nobly http://www.wordnik.com/words/depth Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/depth http://www.wordnik.com/words/virtue Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:34 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/virtue http://www.wordnik.com/words/repulse Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/repulse http://www.wordnik.com/words/evil Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/evil http://www.wordnik.com/words/blessing Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:24 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/blessing http://www.wordnik.com/words/cowardice Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:18 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/cowardice http://www.wordnik.com/words/shrinks Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/shrinks http://www.wordnik.com/words/brave Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:12 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/brave http://www.wordnik.com/words/villain Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:06:04 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/villain http://www.wordnik.com/words/rebel Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:58 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/rebel http://www.wordnik.com/words/whore Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:53 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/whore http://www.wordnik.com/words/allegiance Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/allegiance http://www.wordnik.com/words/sottish Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/sottish http://www.wordnik.com/words/brutish Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:45 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/brutish http://www.wordnik.com/words/horrid Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/horrid http://www.wordnik.com/words/shrieking Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:40 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/shrieking http://www.wordnik.com/words/fleeing Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/fleeing http://www.wordnik.com/words/terror Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/terror http://www.wordnik.com/words/orphan Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/orphan http://www.wordnik.com/words/widow Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:25 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/widow http://www.wordnik.com/words/slain Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:23 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/slain http://www.wordnik.com/words/ravaged Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:21 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/ravaged http://www.wordnik.com/words/bawdy-houses Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:18 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/bawdy-houses http://www.wordnik.com/words/wretch Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:14 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wretch http://www.wordnik.com/words/unlamented Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:05:12 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/unlamented