Read this quotation. In England, a King . . . [is] allowed eight hundred thousand sterling a year . . . and worshipped into the
bargain! Of more worth is one honest man to society . . . than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived. —Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776 Based on the quotation, what does Paine think about the monarchy in England?
He thinks it started out of sinfulness and for that in his belief in God that God stands in opposition to monarchy, this is proved by the many pages he wrote; Paine refutes the theory that hereditary succession reduces civil wars, because there has been at the least maybe ight civil wars and nineteen rebellions in Britain's history which Paine believes only results in only producing bad governing and bloodshed.
Clearly, Paine thinks the English monarchy to be a waste of resources. The King is whorshipped and receives an inmense allowance from the government for basically nothing, since with the advent of a Prime Minister his function is mostly symbolic. Any honest man who makes his living through hard work is more useful for society than all the kings that have ruled throught history. If this wasn't clear enough, Paine refers to them as "crowned ruffians", mere criminals that are seen as something else only thanks to their hereditary position.
In the Elizabethan great chain of being, it was "minerals" that were at the lowest rung of human society, since it was believed that these were the foundations of plant life and nothing more.
