<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><h4 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Crisis</h4><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">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. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.</p><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Tom Paine</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); orphans: 2; widows: 2; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">December 23, 1776)</span></div><div><br></div></div></body></html>