| The Columbia World of Quotations. 1996. |
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| NUMBER: | 43514 |
| QUOTATION: | Universal empire is the prerogative of a writer. His concerns are with all mankind, and though he cannot command their obedience, he can assign them their duty. The Republic of Letters is more ancient than monarchy, and of far higher character in the world than the vassal court of Britain. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Thomas Paine (1737–1809), Anglo-American political theorist, writer. Common Sense (1776).
Written as part of a series of pamphlets and entitled The American Crisis II and signed Common Sense. |
| BIOGRAPHY: | Columbia Encyclopedia. |
| WORKS: | Paine Collection. |
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| | | The Columbia World of Quotations. Copyright © 1996 Columbia University Press. |
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