From Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"

Journal # 15
Posted By: Melissa Veum
11-10-09
Engl 48A

"If you have not, then are you not a judge of those who have. But if you have, and can still shake hands with the murderers, then are you unworthy the name of husband, father, friend, or lover, and whatever may be your rank or title in life, you have the heart of a coward, and the spirit of a sycophant (Paine, 635)."

"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead (Paine, quotationspage.com)."

I really like the first line of this quote, but it's wording is a bit puzzling to me. I feel like when reading it correctly my mind automatically wants to flip it into "...then you are not a judge of those who have". When Paine uses "... then are you not..." I feel like this statement should be concluded with a question mark and not a period. Paine is saying that if you have not lost someone or burdened your family in anyway, then can you really judge those who have done this? Although with his lack of question mark he is making the reader think that maybe you can judge them. It would be Common Sense to not judge anyone if you have not been in there shoes. It also makes you think about the fact that everyone has had bad times and that everyone at one time or another have been sorrowful of something they have done unto their families, friends, or themselves. So, we can be judgemental of someone if we've experienced the same thing in our own lives?

Paine goes on to say that if you have been through these hardships or lost someone dear to you and can "...still shake hands with the murderers..." then you are unworthy and your title or rank in your life should be taken away and you will be seen as low to those of you around you who are "judging" you. He says that your spirit and your heart will be no longer yours to feel and be with, but that of a "coward" and a "sycophant". If you are okay with losing a loved one or if you can just forgive and forget then you should be judged by society as a "coward" and a "sycophant" for you have no soul and people should be weary of you. You should get your "titles" stripped from you and you do not deserve the privilege of not being judged by society.