Rights of Man – Thomas Paine

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good."

Written in defense of the French Revolution against the attacks of Edmund Burke, Paine argues that political rights are derived from nature, not from history or tradition. He advocates for a representative republic, a written constitution, and social welfare programs like public education and pensions.

Paine's book is a cornerstone of modern democratic thought. Its lucid, passionate defense of human rights and its attack on hereditary monarchy terrified the British government and inspired revolutionaries around the world.