Common Sense Race Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

The hankering which the Jews had for the idolatrous customs of the Heathens, is something exceedingly unaccountable. (2.9)

According to Paine, the Jewish people are a bunch of idolaters, meaning that they tend to worship certain people and objects instead of worshipping the one true God. Paine has no clue why the Jews are this way, but he's certain that they are. Again, it's not clear what his evidence is for this claim, apart from his own prejudices.

Quote #5

[But] as few or no records were extant in those days, and traditional history stuffed with fables, it was very easy, after the lapse of a few generations, to trump up some superstitious tale, conveniently timed, Mahomet like, to cram hereditary right down the throats of the vulgar. (2.12)

Back in the old days, it was easy to make up a legend or old story to explain why a certain family got to produce kings instead of anyone else's. Paine compares this makeshift belief systems to the Muslim religion ("Mahomet like") and suggests that Islamic people are just as ignorant as the Jewish people are. Basically, he's saying that only white Christians know what they're talking about. Ugh.

Quote #6

This is supposing the present race of kings in the world to have had an honourable origin. (2.12)

Many people think that their kings come from noble races that go back centuries. But Paine is quick to point out that all the kings of England have come from William the Conqueror, a French barbarian who took over England way back in the day. Therefore, every king who has come after him is not from a great English line, like people want to believe.