Here is the quote. I just don't understand it that well. Anyone understand it better.
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 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.
2006-06-14 09:15:07 · 6 answers · asked by Ace 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
It means that most things worth having aren't easy to get. He's saying that freedom is worth any price. "summer soldier" & "sunshine patriot" refer to those people who signed up in times of peace but didn't really expect to have to do any fighting.
2006-06-14 09:20:48 · answer #1 · answered by Jeremy G 2 · 9⤊ 2⤋
He was trying to say that the things that are important are worth fighting for. If we have to work exceedingly hard for result, we value that result all the more. If we get something easily, it doesn't mean as much to us as if we had to work hard for it.
It's like in Henry V, when King Henry is giving his St. Crispian's Day speech, he says that there are men at home in England in bed tonight who will count their manhood all the less for not having stood with them at Agincourt.
2006-06-14 09:45:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in reality, it really is putting forward to the those who love and prefer to assist human beings (used as a device to cause them to sense in charge, i think) to come back ahead and oppose no longer in reality the tyranny, although the tyrant. he's putting forward that it really isn't any longer only sufficient to unlike some thing: you may do some thing about it. Like i understand from personal adventure that in Libya (I spend my summers there), the "president" is largely a tyrant/dictator. distinctive human beings don't like it/him, yet they don't do some thing about it because they are afraid or too lazy. i imagine it really is that type of imagine. So do not merely oppose the idea, oppose who's imposing it...
2016-10-14 04:11:18 · answer #3 · answered by gaffke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paine wrote this after Washington's army performed a brutal cross of New Jersey, after being routed from New York City. Washington finally camped out in valley forge, where his army began to wither. Seeing this, Paine, who was traveling with the army, decided to right a speech to be read to all the men in order to invigorate them and help them to carry on in there cause. It is one of his many triumphs, including his pamphley, "Common Sense".
2006-06-14 09:32:50 · answer #4 · answered by gorthaur 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he means that the soildier who fought for freedom deserve to be proud. And talk about important freedomw.
Hope my information was helpful. E-mail me if you have more question.
George X.
2006-06-14 09:25:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means "Our freedom is important, let's all fight for it."
2006-06-14 09:19:29 · answer #6 · answered by Ranto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋