Tom Paine rose above his lower middle class beginnings as the result of many factors. chief perhaps is the basic education that allowed him to take advantage of opportunities that were presented as a result of history and his intellect.
In his biography which I am reading, it refers to something in which many of us can share,
In his biography which I am reading, it refers to something in which many of us can share,
"a rigorous course of self improvement followed by personal reinvention inspired by most powerful transformation (cf Greeks) of thought in human history."
The parenthetical is not because Common Sense and its ilk were not earth shattering, but only because it is largely reinvention and not origin as are so many things.
How do we reinvent ourselves?
In Paine's case, it probably involved more risk than "pain". Shipping to sea as a privateer to get seed money, a life without tackle to clear; clearing the raffle and raising the shears to wax literary.
How much more simple life would be if it were all risk and no pain.
But we must take our medicines. We must decide where the end of risk is too great and so must we to pain. Paine wore through pain, of a lesser degree, an acceptable pain to Paine, an acceptable risk to himself without so much to others.
The parenthetical is not because Common Sense and its ilk were not earth shattering, but only because it is largely reinvention and not origin as are so many things.
How do we reinvent ourselves?
In Paine's case, it probably involved more risk than "pain". Shipping to sea as a privateer to get seed money, a life without tackle to clear; clearing the raffle and raising the shears to wax literary.
How much more simple life would be if it were all risk and no pain.
But we must take our medicines. We must decide where the end of risk is too great and so must we to pain. Paine wore through pain, of a lesser degree, an acceptable pain to Paine, an acceptable risk to himself without so much to others.
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