， INTRODUCTION 生？ perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages； are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour； a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong； gives it a superficial appearance of being right； and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom。 but the tumult soon subsides。 time makes more converts than reason。 as a long and violent abuse of power； is generally the means of calling the right of it in question （and in matters too which might never have been thought of； had not the sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry） and as the king of england hath undertaken in his own right； to support the parliament in what he calls theirs； and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the bination； they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both； and equally to reject the usurpation of either。 in the following sheets； the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves。 pliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof。 the wise； and the worthy； need not the triumph of a pamphlet； and those whose sentiments are injudicious； or unfriendly； will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion。 the cause of america is in a great measure the cause of all mankind。 many circumstances hath； and will arise； which are not local； but universal； and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected； and in the event of which； their affections are interested。 the laying a country desolate with fire and sword； declaring war against the natural rights of all mankind； and extirpating the defenders thereof from the face of the earth； is the concern of every man to whom nature hath given the power of feeling； of which class； regardless of party censure； is the author。 p。s。 the publication of this new edition hath been delayed； with a view of taking notice （had it been necessary） of any attempt to refute the doctrine of independance： as no answer hath yet appeared； it is now presumed that none will； the time needful for getting such a performance ready for the public being considerably past。 who the author of this production is； is wholly unnecessary to the public； as the object for attention is the doctrine itself； not the man。 yet it may not be unnecessary to say； that he is unconnected with any party； and under no sort of influence public or private； but the influence of reason and principle。 philadelphia； february 14； 1776 。。！ mon SenseI ＜小＞说？网 1； introduction perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages； are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour； a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong； gives it a superficial appearance of being right； and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom。 but the tumult soon subsides。 time makes more converts than reason。 as a long and violent abuse of power； is generally the means of calling the right of it in question （and in matters too which might never have been thought of； had not the sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry） and as the king of england hath undertaken in his own right； to support the parliament in what he calls theirs； and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the bination； they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both； and equally to reject the usurpation of either。 in the following sheets； the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves。 pliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof。 the wise； and the worthy； need not the triumph of a pamphlet； and those whose sentiments are injudicious； or unfriendly； will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion。 the cause of america is in a great measure the cause of all mankind。 many circumstances hath； and will arise； which are not local； but universal； and through which the principles of all lovers of mankind are affected； and in the event of which； their affections are interested。 the laying a country desolate with fire and sword； declaring war against the natural rights of all mankind； and extirpating the defenders thereof from the face of the earth； is the concern of every man to whom nature hath given the power of feeling； of which class； regardless of party censure； is the author。 p。s。 the publication of this new edition hath been delayed； with a view of taking notice （had it been necessary） of any attempt to refute the doctrine of independance： as no answer hath yet appeared； it is now presumed that none will； the time needful for getting such a performance ready for the public being considerably past。 who the author of this production is； is wholly unnecessary to the public； as the object for attention is the doctrine itself； not the man。 yet it may not be unnecessary to say； that he is unconnected with any party； and under no sort of influence public or private； but the influence of reason and principle。 philadelphia； february 14； 1776 。。 mon SenseII…2 ； 2。2 of monarchy and hereditary succession mankind being originally equals in the order of creation； the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent circumstance； the distinctions of rich； and poor； may in a great measure be accounted for； and that without having recourse to the harsh； ill…sounding names of oppression and avarice。 oppression is often the consequence； but seldom or never the means of riches； and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor； it generally makes him too timorous to be wealthy。 but there is another and greater distinction； for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned； and that is； the distinction of men into kings and subjects。 male and female are the distinctions of nature； good and bad the distinctions of heaven； but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest； and distinguished like some new species； is worth inquiring into； and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind。