Nothing is criminal; there is no such thing as treason
 Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776). copy citation

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Author Thomas Paine
Source Common Sense
Topic treason criminal
Date 1776
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/147/147-h/147-h.htm

Context

“The property of no man is secure in the present unbraced system of things. The mind of the multitude is left at random, and seeing no fixed object before them, they pursue such as fancy or opinion starts. Nothing is criminal; there is no such thing as treason; wherefore, every one thinks himself at liberty to act as he pleases. The Tories dared not have assembled offensively, had they known that their lives, by that act, were forfeited to the laws of the state.” source