Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations. 1989.
Thomas Paine (17371809)
These are the times that try mens souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
THOMAS PAINE, The Crisis, no. 1, The Writings of Thomas Paine, ed. Moncure D. Conway, vol. 1, p. 170 (1894).
The first Crisis is of especial historical interest. It was written during the retreat of Washington across the Delaware, and by order of the Commander was read to groups of his dispirited and suffering soldiers. Its opening sentence [above] was adopted as the watchword of the movement on Trenton, a few days after its publication, and is believed to have inspired much of the courage which won that victory, which, though not imposing in extent, was of great moral effect on Washingtons little army (p. 169).