How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Secondly—the remains of the aristocratical tyranny in the persons of the peers. (1.12)
On top of having a king, England has an entire shelf of upper class society that's dominated by aristocrats who, like the king, inherit all of their money and status without ever having to work for it. Paine hopes that a future America will be able to do better.
Quote #2
But there is another and greater distinction, for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into kings and subjects. (2.2)
It's really pretty simple for Thomas Paine: the existence of kings goes entirely against the natural order of things. Nature would never reward a certain lion simply for being the son of another lion. If that lion was weak, something would kill it, plain and simple. It wouldn't be able to hide behind a throne.
The king and the aristocrats of England have nothing to do with the rest of English society. They just sit on their fortunes and contribute nothing to making their country a better place. That makes Tommy boy mighty mad.
Quote #3
In the early stages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throw mankind into confusion. (2.3)
Paine believes that the only reason there is war in the world is because countries are ruled by kings that aren't elected by their people. Paine then demonstrates through the examples of Holland and Switzerland that societies with democratically elected leaders tend never to go to war.