In just a few months more than 500,000 copies were sold. That works out to be about one for every eight people living in the colonies at that time. Even though the colonists knew Thomas Paine, an Englishman, had been condemned in England and was probably prejudice, his arguments went right to their hearts. Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor, 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. But the tumult soon subsides.
Time makes more converts than reason.
In the following sheets, the author hath studiously every thing which is personal among ourselves. Compliments as well as censure to individuals make no part thereof. The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise, which are not local, but universal, and through which the principals of all Lovers of Mankind are affected, and in the Event of which, their Affections are interested. As no Answer hath yet apeared, it is now presumed that none will, the Time needful for getting such a Performance ready for the Public being considerably past.