“
Could we take off the dark covering of antiquity, and trace them to their first rise, we should find the first of them nothing better than the principle ruffian of some restless gang; whose savage manners or preeminence in subtility obtained him the title of chief among plunderers; and who by increasing in power and extending his deprendations overawed the quiet and defenceless to purchase their safety by frequent contributions. ”
—Thomas Paine
