Common Quote by Thomas Paine
“The earth, in its natural, uncultivated state was, and ever would have continued to be, the common property of the human race." As the land gets cultivated, "it is the value of the improvement, only, and not the earth itself, that is in individual property. Every proprietor, therefore, of cultivated lands, owes to the community a ground-rent..to every person, rich or poor...because it is in lieu of the natural inheritance, which, as a right, belongs to every man, over and above the property he may have created, or inherited from those who did”
About This Quote
Source Treat: Common Sense, 1776
The earth is a shared natural inheritance; only improvements become private property, and owners must pay ground‑rent to the community.
In simple terms: Nature belongs to all; only cultivated improvements are owned.
Key Takeaway
Recognize communal rights to natural resources.
Themes
property rights
commonwealth
environment
economics
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- agricultural policy
- environmental law
- resource management
Key Concepts
natural inheritance
ground‑rent
communal responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How should societies balance private improvement with communal natural rights?
- What mechanisms ensure fair ground‑rent?
A Different Perspective
Privatizing nature can lead to inequality and exploitation.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
