The Rights of Man

作者：Thomas Paine · 年份：1994 · 被引用次数：273 · 研究领域：Mathematical and Computational Methods、Multidisciplinary Warburg-centric Studies

The only point upon which I could ever discover that we differed was not as to principles of government, but as to time. For my own part I think it equally as injurious to good principles to permit them to linger, as to push them on too fast. That which you suppose accomplishable in fourteen or fifteen years, I may believe practicable in a much shorter period. Mankind, as it appears to me, are always ripe enough to understand their true interest, provided it be presented clearly to their understanding, and that in a manner not to create suspicion by anything like selfdesign, nor offend by assuming too much. Where we would wish to reform we must not reproach.