“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

—Thomas Paine, American Crisis, No. 1, 1776

Shortly before the Battle of Trenton, Thomas Paine wrote the first of the 13 works and it was read by then General George Washington to his troops to bolster their morale.  In this piece, Paine acknowledged that when you fight for freedom it is often hard won but the fight should be fought even still.  These might be the times to try men’s souls but to remain enslaved is a far worse condition to endure.

The complete series by Thomas Paine on the American Crisis can be read here:

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/