When Paine says that, he means that the british, who were going to invade America, were living at a time that was forcing them to show their true characters. In every part of Crisis No 1 Paine is talking about britain as the ones who enslave america with sentences like: What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value," He contradicts the capability of britain to conquer America by saying that the powr to subdue belongs "only to God". He encourages to be bold and not coward by saying: the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. stating like this that the british will have no easy enemy to defeat
America was going through a difficult period when Paine wrote "The Crisis, No. 1." Some soldiers were abandoning the fight for freedom, and therefore, Paine tried to convince them through these lines: "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
Paine agreed that the time was full of troubles and problems, and it was testing the hard work of the people. However, he appealed to them to not abandon the war. He argued that hope was not yet lost, and victory was within reach as long as Americans continued their struggle.
