29 May 2006

Memorial Day

In honour of the day, Thomas Paine writing in The Crisis, #1.
These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
He goes on to talk about the use of force of arms in the American Revolution. But set that aside, and read this bit again.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.
He's talking about integrity.

1 comment:

Kate said...

Very nice, my son..........I remember studying these writings as a freshman at Wisconsin. (It's only the short term memory that fades.)

Hope your week was productive and you are refreshed to start anew.

Love,

Mom