Question

Reread this portion of the excerpted text from Common Sense.

Men of passive tempers look somewhat lightly over the offenses of Britain, and, still hoping for the best, are apt to call out, Come, we shall be friends again for all this. But examine the passions and feelings of mankind. Bring the doctrine of reconciliation to the touchstone of nature, and then tell me, whether you can hereafter love, honor, and faithfully serve the power that hath carried fire and sword into your land? If you cannot do all these, then are you only deceiving yourselves, and by your delay bringing ruin upon posterity. Your future connection with Britain, whom you can neither love nor honor, will be forced and unnatural, and being formed only on the plan of present convenience, will in a little time fall into a relapse more wretched than the first.
What key concept about the relationship between an abusive government and its citizens does Paine want readers to understand? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be one to two complete paragraphs. PLEASE HELP

Answer 1

Paine wants readers to understand that the relationship between an abusive government and its citizens is irreparable. He argues that men of passive tempers may overlook the offenses of Britain and hope for reconciliation, but this is only deceiving themselves and bringing ruin upon posterity. Paine believes that if a government has carried "fire and sword" into a land, then it is impossible to love, honor, and faithfully serve that government. Therefore, any future connection with Britain would be forced and unnatural, and would eventually lead to a relapse that is more wretched than the first.

Paine's key concept is that an abusive government cannot be trusted and that reconciliation is impossible. He argues that attempting to reconcile with such a government is only deceiving oneself and bringing ruin upon posterity. Paine wants readers to understand that the relationship between an abusive government and its citizens is irreparable and that any attempt at reconciliation will only lead to more misery in the long run.