Final answer:
The final sentence in Thomas Paine's Common Sense serves as a cautionary reminder of the importance of the present contest and the responsibility of the colonists. It emphasizes the potential consequences of not taking action and the negative perception future generations may have of the colonists.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main purpose of the final sentence in the excerpt from Thomas Paine's Common Sense is to emphasize the gravity of the situation and the potential consequences of not taking action. Paine suggests that if the colonists succumb to a cowardly and unmanly thought, future generations will remember their ancestors with detestation. This statement serves as a cautionary reminder of the significance of the present contest and the responsibility the colonists have to stand up for their rights.
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