Thanks for the ping to this interesting history lesson about Thomas Paine. Regarding having only a few friends at his burial. I knew a guy that was well-respected in his field of business - and he knew everybody. I thought the church would be filled to the rafters.
I was very surprised at his funeral when perhaps only 20 people showed up. Family and friends and a few of his closest business associates.
I told my wife and she said “Oh - I’m not surprised. Business friends aren’t really “friends”.
I’m guessing the same goes for the political types that work in the trenches. And especially if you have served your purpose of raising the banner and the emotions of the people. But now your government wants to be on a more even-keel.
I wonder if when he died, seemingly with few friends and little to no recognition by his nation, that 250 years later folks would still be memorizing his words?
(Probably not, just like Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address!)