Cases Quote by Thomas Paine
“In the first part of 'Rights of Man' I have endeavoured to show...that there does not exist a right to establish hereditary government...because hereditary government always means a government yet to come, and the case always is, that the people who are to live afterwards, have always the same right to choose a government for themselves, as the people had who have lived before them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Rights of Man, Part I, 1791
Government should be chosen by each generation, not inherited, because legitimacy comes from the people’s consent.
In simple terms: Governments must be elected, not inherited.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for democratic choice.
Themes
democracy
political legitimacy
generational rights
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- constitutional drafting
- civic education
- voting reforms
- public debates
Key Concepts
social contract
popular sovereignty
hereditary rule
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies transition from hereditary to elected systems?
- What safeguards ensure ongoing popular consent?
A Different Perspective
Hereditary systems persist where tradition outweighs rational reform.
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