Thomas Paine (1737-1809) is too often left off the list of America’s most prominent “founders” maybe because he was not a soldier and he did not sign the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. But Paine’s contribution to the American Revolution was important becaue he was a master of words that inspired colonists to fight for their freedom. When he wrote "Common Sense" he began to show colonitsts how to think of themselves for the first time as Americans rather than subjects of the King. Gen. George Washington ordered that Paine's article "The American Crisis" be read to his troops at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778. According to legend, it was John Adams who said, “Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain.”
The words from Paine that Washington wanted his troops to hear were written a year before Valley Forge two days before Christmas in 1776. They once inspired almost every grammar school child in America but are too often overlooked today and our national spirit is far less robust for that lack.
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God."