---
product_id: 8650495
title: "Common Sense (Books of American Wisdom)"
price: "€ 35.35"
currency: EUR
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reviews_count: 12
url: https://www.desertcart.nl/products/8650495-common-sense-books-of-american-wisdom
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region: Netherlands
---

# Common Sense (Books of American Wisdom)

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Common Sense (Books of American Wisdom) [Paine, Thomas] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Common Sense (Books of American Wisdom)

Review: "He was a filthy little atheist!"---Theodore Roosevelt on Thomas Paine - I usually admire Colonel Roosevelt, but he missed the mark with his blistering assessment of the author of this brief, world-changing, history-making book. COMMON SENSE is master propagandist Thomas Paine's (1736-1809) compelling argument for American independence. Anyone who wants to understand the true intent of the Founders must read Paine. Paine had previously written in defense of tax collectors (while still in Britain) and his writings had impressed Benjamin Franklin. Published in February 1776, COMMON SENSE sold over 500,000 copies in the Colonies (out of a free population of two-and-a-half million), and was republished throughout Europe. Paine's writings created the necessary groundswell for the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Irish Rebellion of 1798. In clear, concise and simple language COMMON SENSE begins with a general reflection about government and religion. It then progresses onto the specifics of the colonial situation. Paine draws a strong distinction between Government and Society. In Paine's view, "Society" is everything constructive that people work together to accomplish, while "Government" is a structure designed specifically to protect human beings from ourselves. Government arises because of human evil; therefore Government is itself a necessary evil. According to Paine, Government exists to protect life, liberty and property. A successful Government accomplishes these ends, and no others. Paine states that a people constrained by Government will be far more satisfied if they themselves are responsible for the creation of the laws that their Government enforces, thus endorsing a form of representative Government in America. Paine has no truck with the British system of Government, or of Monarchy in any form, which he says is an unnatural relation between inherent equals. Paine then sets out the details of his view of the American situation. Paine points out that the American Colonies have evolved into an independent political and economic association that no longer needs Britain's protection or Britain's exploitation. Paine points out that Britain has been suppressing the Colonies rather than encouraging their growth, even for the Mother Country's own benefit. Such abuses make Great Britain undeserving of American loyalty. Paine further argues that it is necessary to seek independence immediately, since the problems that exist between Britain and her Colonies are endemic, and unresolvable. Simply put, America has matured beyond Colonialism. Paine was a hero of the American Revolution. He wrote an ongoing publication "American Crisis" during the Revolutionary War, but has become a "Forgotten Founding Father." A better theorist than a pragmatist, Paine was a strong-willed and opinionated man who alienated many former friends. A true revolutionary rather than a politician, unlamented he left America for France. He was marked for death a number of times during The Terror, but managed to escape by claiming American citizenship. After fleeing Paris, he went back to England for a time. Considered a rabble-rouser by the British for his association with the Irish patriot Wolfe Tone he returned to America again. He was this nation's first true internationalist. By the early 1800s however, Paine's writings, particularly his Deist writings, had alienated the growing Christian Fundamentalist movement of The Second Great Awakening, and he was treated with derision. Thus, when "Citizen Tom Paine" died in New York, it was in near obscurity.
Review: A must read for all Americans, new and old! - A must read for all Americans to gain knowledge of what we stand for, and against. To understand patriots and what we fought for then and now.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #36,462 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #50 in U.S. Revolution & Founding History #64 in Political Philosophy (Books) #89 in History & Theory of Politics |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (4,441) |
| Dimensions  | 4 x 0.45 x 6.5 inches |
| Edition  | Little Books of Wisdom |
| ISBN-10  | 1557094586 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-1557094582 |
| Item Weight  | 2.31 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 80 pages |
| Publication date  | July 1, 2002 |
| Publisher  | Applewood Books |

## Images

![Common Sense (Books of American Wisdom) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61z6WEOk8NL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "He was a filthy little atheist!"---Theodore Roosevelt on Thomas Paine
*by K***I on December 25, 2011*

I usually admire Colonel Roosevelt, but he missed the mark with his blistering assessment of the author of this brief, world-changing, history-making book. COMMON SENSE is master propagandist Thomas Paine's (1736-1809) compelling argument for American independence. Anyone who wants to understand the true intent of the Founders must read Paine. Paine had previously written in defense of tax collectors (while still in Britain) and his writings had impressed Benjamin Franklin. Published in February 1776, COMMON SENSE sold over 500,000 copies in the Colonies (out of a free population of two-and-a-half million), and was republished throughout Europe. Paine's writings created the necessary groundswell for the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and the Irish Rebellion of 1798. In clear, concise and simple language COMMON SENSE begins with a general reflection about government and religion. It then progresses onto the specifics of the colonial situation. Paine draws a strong distinction between Government and Society. In Paine's view, "Society" is everything constructive that people work together to accomplish, while "Government" is a structure designed specifically to protect human beings from ourselves. Government arises because of human evil; therefore Government is itself a necessary evil. According to Paine, Government exists to protect life, liberty and property. A successful Government accomplishes these ends, and no others. Paine states that a people constrained by Government will be far more satisfied if they themselves are responsible for the creation of the laws that their Government enforces, thus endorsing a form of representative Government in America. Paine has no truck with the British system of Government, or of Monarchy in any form, which he says is an unnatural relation between inherent equals. Paine then sets out the details of his view of the American situation. Paine points out that the American Colonies have evolved into an independent political and economic association that no longer needs Britain's protection or Britain's exploitation. Paine points out that Britain has been suppressing the Colonies rather than encouraging their growth, even for the Mother Country's own benefit. Such abuses make Great Britain undeserving of American loyalty. Paine further argues that it is necessary to seek independence immediately, since the problems that exist between Britain and her Colonies are endemic, and unresolvable. Simply put, America has matured beyond Colonialism. Paine was a hero of the American Revolution. He wrote an ongoing publication "American Crisis" during the Revolutionary War, but has become a "Forgotten Founding Father." A better theorist than a pragmatist, Paine was a strong-willed and opinionated man who alienated many former friends. A true revolutionary rather than a politician, unlamented he left America for France. He was marked for death a number of times during The Terror, but managed to escape by claiming American citizenship. After fleeing Paris, he went back to England for a time. Considered a rabble-rouser by the British for his association with the Irish patriot Wolfe Tone he returned to America again. He was this nation's first true internationalist. By the early 1800s however, Paine's writings, particularly his Deist writings, had alienated the growing Christian Fundamentalist movement of The Second Great Awakening, and he was treated with derision. Thus, when "Citizen Tom Paine" died in New York, it was in near obscurity.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must read for all Americans, new and old!
*by J***E on November 30, 2025*

A must read for all Americans to gain knowledge of what we stand for, and against. To understand patriots and what we fought for then and now.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A “must read”.
*by S***E on February 28, 2026*

A “must read” for our upcoming 250th Anniversary.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Common Sense (Books of American Wisdom)
- Benjamin Franklin's Book of Virtues (Books of American Wisdom)
- George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation (Deluxe, Hardbound Edition)

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*Store origin: NL*
*Last updated: 2026-03-11*