Compared to most of our country’s other Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine is essentially unknown. In fact, there are many Americans who have never even heard of him. Paine was born in 1737, the son of a corsetier—a tailor specializing in corsets and other undergarments—and grew up in rural Thetford, England. As a young man, Paine worked as a corsetier, sailor, and minister, but found his true calling when he moved to the British colonies in America.

Paine first gained notoriety as the editor of Pennsylvania Magazine and, as political turmoil engulfed the colonies, he became more prominent. In 1776, Paine anonymously published a book called Common Sense that argued forcefully for American independence from Britain. The book’s popularity spread like wildfire; soon there were 200,000 copies in circulation. Once the war began, Paine published a series of pamphlets called The Crisis. These, in the midst of a bloody war, helped keep up the morale of the troops. Thomas Paine is also credited with conceiving the name “The United States of America.”

Thomas Paine was an extremely talented writer; Thomas Jefferson and John Adams drew heavily on his work when drafting the Declaration of Independence. Later in life, Paine wrote other, highly controversial works. He was even exiled from England and imprisoned in France for his writings. In 1796, Paine did his part to inspire what would become Social Security. He suggested a system of social insurance for the young and the elderly in his last great work, Agrarian Justice.

Compared to most of our country’s other Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine is essentially unknown. In fact, there are many Americans who have never even heard of him. Paine was born in 1737, the son of a corsetier—a tailor specializing in corsets and other undergarments—and grew up in rural Thetford, England. As a young man, Paine worked as a corsetier, sailor, and minister, but found his true calling when he moved to the British colonies in America.

Paine first gained notoriety as the editor of Pennsylvania Magazine and, as political turmoil engulfed the colonies, he became more prominent. In 1776, Paine anonymously published a book called Common Sense that argued forcefully for American independence from Britain. The book’s popularity spread like wildfire; soon there were 200,000 copies in circulation. Once the war began, Paine published a series of pamphlets called The Crisis. These, in the midst of a bloody war, helped keep up the morale of the troops. Thomas Paine is also credited with conceiving the name “The United States of America.”

Thomas Paine was an extremely talented writer; Thomas Jefferson and John Adams drew heavily on his work when drafting the Declaration of Independence. Later in life, Paine wrote other, highly controversial works. He was even exiled from England and imprisoned in France for his writings. In 1796, Paine did his part to inspire what would become Social Security. He suggested a system of social insurance for the young and the elderly in his last great work, Agrarian Justice.

Compared to most of our country’s other Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine is essentially unknown. In fact, there are many Americans who have never even heard of him. Paine was born in 1737, the son of a corsetier—a tailor specializing in corsets and other undergarments—and grew up in rural Thetford, England. As a young man, Paine worked as a corsetier, sailor, and minister, but found his true calling when he moved to the British colonies in America.

Paine first gained notoriety as the editor of Pennsylvania Magazine and, as political turmoil engulfed the colonies, he became more prominent. In 1776, Paine anonymously published a book called Common Sense that argued forcefully for American independence from Britain. The book’s popularity spread like wildfire; soon there were 200,000 copies in circulation. Once the war began, Paine published a series of pamphlets called The Crisis. These, in the midst of a bloody war, helped keep up the morale of the troops. Thomas Paine is also credited with conceiving the name “The United States of America.”

Thomas Paine was an extremely talented writer; Thomas Jefferson and John Adams drew heavily on his work when drafting the Declaration of Independence. Later in life, Paine wrote other, highly controversial works. He was even exiled from England and imprisoned in France for his writings. In 1796, Paine did his part to inspire what would become Social Security. He suggested a system of social insurance for the young and the elderly in his last great work, Agrarian Justice.

Compared to most of our country’s other Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine is essentially unknown. In fact, there are many Americans who have never even heard of him. Paine was born in 1737, the son of a corsetier—a tailor specializing in corsets and other undergarments—and grew up in rural Thetford, England. As a young man, Paine worked as a corsetier, sailor, and minister, but found his true calling when he moved to the British colonies in America.

Paine first gained notoriety as the editor of Pennsylvania Magazine and, as political turmoil engulfed the colonies, he became more prominent. In 1776, Paine anonymously published a book called Common Sense that argued forcefully for American independence from Britain. The book’s popularity spread like wildfire; soon there were 200,000 copies in circulation. Once the war began, Paine published a series of pamphlets called The Crisis. These, in the midst of a bloody war, helped keep up the morale of the troops. Thomas Paine is also credited with conceiving the name “The United States of America.”

Thomas Paine was an extremely talented writer; Thomas Jefferson and John Adams drew heavily on his work when drafting the Declaration of Independence. Later in life, Paine wrote other, highly controversial works. He was even exiled from England and imprisoned in France for his writings. In 1796, Paine did his part to inspire what would become Social Security. He suggested a system of social insurance for the young and the elderly in his last great work, Agrarian Justice.

Compared to most of our country’s other Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine is essentially unknown. In fact, there are many Americans who have never even heard of him. Paine was born in 1737, the son of a corsetier—a tailor specializing in corsets and other undergarments—and grew up in rural Thetford, England. As a young man, Paine worked as a corsetier, sailor, and minister, but found his true calling when he moved to the British colonies in America.

Paine first gained notoriety as the editor of Pennsylvania Magazine and, as political turmoil engulfed the colonies, he became more prominent. In 1776, Paine anonymously published a book called Common Sense that argued forcefully for American independence from Britain. The book’s popularity spread like wildfire; soon there were 200,000 copies in circulation. Once the war began, Paine published a series of pamphlets called The Crisis. These, in the midst of a bloody war, helped keep up the morale of the troops. Thomas Paine is also credited with conceiving the name “The United States of America.”

Thomas Paine was an extremely talented writer; Thomas Jefferson and John Adams drew heavily on his work when drafting the Declaration of Independence. Later in life, Paine wrote other, highly controversial works. He was even exiled from England and imprisoned in France for his writings. In 1796, Paine did his part to inspire what would become Social Security. He suggested a system of social insurance for the young and the elderly in his last great work, Agrarian Justice.

At only five years old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had already written five musical compositions. What are you waiting for? If you want to accomplish something in your life, the best day to start working towards it is yesterday. The universe only rewards people who are willing to take risks. Mozart was 5 when he was already on his way to being a legend; what’s holding you back?

At only five years old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had already written five musical compositions. What are you waiting for? If you want to accomplish something in your life, the best day to start working towards it is yesterday. The universe only rewards people who are willing to take risks. Mozart was 5 when he was already on his way to being a legend; what’s holding you back?