3. What best describes the impact the last 4 sentences of the passage have on the reader?
'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light. Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder; but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to "bind me in all cases whatsoever" to his absolute will, am I to suffer it? What signifies it to me, whether he who does it is a king or a common man; my countryman or not my countryman; whether it be done by an individual villain, or an army of them? If we reason to the root of things we shall find no difference; neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other.
Question 3 options:
a. Paine suggests that the colonists should only rise up if they are repeatedly robbed by highwaymen.
b. By comparing the king to a common thief, Paine suggests that the colonists not be intimidated by him, and he is inspiring and empowering them to deal with the king just as they would deal with a common thief.
c. Paine suggests the war is "offensive" and "murder" and therefore suggests the colonists should stay out of the conflict.
d. By repeated use of rhetorical questions, Paine sows doubt into the mind of the reader as to whom they should be fighting.
