Common Sense

常識論(Common Sense)節錄 --- 僅以此篇獻給我台灣同胞

Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins (opening line).
有許多人對於"社會"和"政府"極端混淆, 導致對其中的差異分辨不清; 事實上是, 他們不僅不同, 連起源都完全不一樣

I offer nothing but the simple facts, plain arguments and common sense.
我僅提供簡單的事實, 明確的論辯, 及常識.

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.
長時期的沒有想錯一件事給了人們他們一直做對事的表象, 因此一開始就製造了可畏的喧囂來防衛傳統

Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil.
社會因需要而生, 政府因人的弱點而存在; 前者(社會)積極的藉連結情感來增加我們的快樂, 後者(政府)只是消極的壓抑我們的惡.

Every thing that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part.
所有對的事,或自然的道理都指向"分離"(獨立). 被屠殺人民的鮮血, 及自然哭泣的聲音都在叫喊 "分離的時候到了".

But where says some is the king of America? I'll tell you friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the royal brute of Britain. ... so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king.
有人就說了"美洲的王在哪?". 讓我告訴你吧我的朋友, 祂從上治理一切, 且不會像英王喬治3世般對人類造成破壞... 只因我們默許君主制的存在. 在美國, 法律就是王.

O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe. Asia, and Africa, have long expelled her--Europe regards her like a stranger, and England hath given her warning to depart. O! receive the fugitive, and prepare in time an asylum for mankind.

. . . we have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. A situation, similar to the present, hath not happened since the days of Noah until now. The birthday of a new world is at hand, and a race of men, perhaps as numerous as all Europe contains, are to receive their portion of freedom from the event of a few months.

That there are men in all countries who get their living by war, and by keeping up the quarrels of Nations, is as shocking as it is true; but when those who are concerned in the government of a country make it their study to sow discord, and cultivate prejudices among Nations, it becomes the more unpardonable.

Wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for God's sake, let us come to a final separation.

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