Common Sense is a famous political pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in late 1775 and published in January 1776. Written in clear, straightforward language, it delivered a powerful argument for the American colonies to break away completely from British rule and establish a free, self-governing republic

In The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine presents a forceful defense of Deism (Deism is a rational approach to religion that centers on the belief in one God through reason and nature, rather than through church doctrines or written scripture) while critiquing the established doctrines of institutional Christianity. Writing amidst the turmoil of the French Revolution, Paine advocates for a “Religion of Humanity” rooted in rationality and the observable laws of the natural world rather than scripture.

He argues that the universe itself is the only true divine revelation, suggesting that the study of science and astronomy reveals the character of a Creator more accurately than ancient texts. Throughout the work, Paine rejects the validity of biblical miracles and traditional theology, labeling them as human inventions designed to maintain political and clerical power.

He emphasizes that true religious duty involves the practice of justice and mercy, grounded in the “inner light” of human conscience. Ultimately, the text serves as a pivotal bridge between Enlightenment philosophy and modern secular thought, championing the autonomy of reason over the constraints of religious dogma.

Chapter 1 : “Of The Origin And Design Of Government In General, With Concise Remarks On The English Constitution”

Paine’s main goal in this chapter is to explain what government is, why we need it, and why the English system of government is fundamentally flawed

1. Society vs. Government: They Are Not the Same

Paine begins by pointing out that many people confuse society with government, but they are completely different:

Society is created by our wants and needs. It brings people together, promotes happiness, encourages cooperation, and acts as a patron.

Government is created by our wickedness or vices. It restrains us from doing wrong, creates social distinctions, and acts as a punisher.

Paine calls government a “necessary evil”. If human conscience were always clear and perfectly obeyed, we would never need laws or governments.

But because people are imperfect, we give up a small part of our property and freedom to a government so it can protect the rest of what we own.

The single true purpose of government is security and freedom at the lowest possible cost.

2. How Government Was Born: The Story of the Island

To make his point easy to understand, Paine asks us to imagine a small group of people arriving on an isolated island:

1. Natural Liberty: At first, they naturally form a society because one person cannot build a home, gather food, and survive disease all alone. Working together, four or five people can easily build a house, whereas one person would struggle for a lifetime.

2. The Need for Rules: As long as everyone treats each other fairly, they don’t need formal laws. But as life becomes easier and the initial hardships pass, people begin to neglect their moral duties to one another.

3. First Form of Government: To fix this lack of moral virtue, they create a basic government. At first, everyone meets under a large tree to agree on simple regulations, enforced only by public disesteem.

4. Representative Democracy: As the population grows and lives further apart, meeting all together becomes inconvenient. So, they choose a select group of representatives to make laws for them. Paine emphasizes that holding frequent elections is crucial so that representatives regularly return to live as ordinary citizens, ensuring they never abuse their power.

3. What Makes a Good Government?

Paine lays down a simple rule: The simpler a system is, the less likely it is to break, and the easier it is to fix when it does.

In an absolute monarchy, if the people suffer, the cause is simple and obvious—the king. But when a government becomes overly complex, citizens can suffer for years without understanding which part of the system is failing.

4. Why Paine Rejects the English Constitution

Paine strongly criticizes the praised English Constitution, arguing that it is overly complicated and built on two ancient tyrannies mixed with a small piece of democracy:

1. Monarchical Tyranny: The King (hereditary, not elected).

2. Aristocratical Tyranny: The House of Lords/Peers (hereditary, not elected).

3. Republican Materials: The House of Commons (elected by the people), upon whose virtue freedom depends.

Paine argues that calling this system a set of “checks and balances” is farcical and contradictory:

• Saying the Commons checks the King assumes the King cannot be trusted.

• But giving the King the power to veto laws passed by the Commons assumes the King is wiser than the elected representatives.

• Kings are completely shut off from the real world, yet they are expected to make decisions requiring the highest knowledge of it.

• The Crown ultimately dominates because it controls jobs, offices, and pensions, allowing it to corrupt Parliament.

Paine concludes that any freedom enjoyed by people in England comes from the good character of the people themselves, not from the flawed structure of their government.