Section 1

Introduction: Plain Arguments for a Public Crisis explained simply

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Original excerpt

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Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right.

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Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason. As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the Means of calling the right of it in question (and in Matters too which might never have been thought of, had not the Sufferers been aggravated into the inquiry) and as the King of England hath undertaken in his own Right, to support the Parliament in what he calls Theirs, and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to inquire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the usurpation of either. In the following sheets, the author hath studiously avoided every thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need not the triumph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are injudicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves unless too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion. The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principles of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested. The laying a Country desolate with Fire and Sword, declaring War against the natural rights of all Mankind, and extirpating the Defenders thereof from the Face of the Earth, is the Concern of every Man to whom Nature hath given the Power of feeling; of which Class, regardless of Party Censure, is the AUTHOR P.S. The Publication of this new Edition hath been delayed, with a View of taking notice (had it been necessary) of any Attempt to refute the Doctrine of Independance: As no Answer hath yet appeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably past. Who the Author of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the Public, as the Object for Attention is the Doctrine itself, not the Man. Yet it may not be unnecessary to say, That he is unconnected with any Party, and under no sort of Influence public or private, but the influence of reason and principle. Philadelphia, February 14, 1776

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Simple English explanation

Paine opens by saying that unpopular ideas often sound shocking only because people are used to the old system. He wants readers to judge the argument by reason and principle, not habit, party loyalty, or fear of public reaction.

1-minute summary

The introduction presents Common Sense as a plain public argument for a serious crisis. Paine says custom can make bad systems look normal, but time and honest debate can change opinion. He asks readers to look beyond prejudice and consider whether British rule still deserves obedience.

Key takeaways

Old habits can make bad systems feel natural.
Public arguments should be judged by reason, not popularity.
Political crises require ordinary people to think clearly.
Paine frames independence as a question of principle, not party.

Modern example

A company may keep an unfair policy for years simply because everyone is used to it. A clear memo that explains the harm can make people reconsider what once felt normal.

For kids

Sometimes people keep doing something unfair just because it has always been done. Paine says we should stop and ask whether it is actually right.