They took care to represent ...

They took care to represent government as a thing made up of mysteries, which only themselves understood, and they hid from the understanding of the nation, the only thing that was beneficial to know, namely, that government is nothing more than a national association acting on the principles of society.
They took care to represent government as a thing made up of mysteries, which only themselves understood, and they hid from the understanding of the nation, the only thing that was beneficial to know, namely, that government is nothing more than a national association acting on the principles of society.
 Thomas Paine

Quotes from the same author

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
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 Thomas Paine
The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
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 Thomas Paine
The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.
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 Thomas Paine
Arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe and preserve order.
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 Thomas Paine
The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside ... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become prey to the strong.
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 Thomas Paine