"When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon"

This quote by Thomas Paine speaks to the importance of thinking and the flexibility of idea. He is cautioning that when people quit the right to believe for themselves, they are giving up their flexibility. He is stating that when people stop believing for themselves, the last vestige of liberty disappears. This is an effective declaration that speaks with the significance of critical thinking and the need to secure our right to believe freely. Paine is warning that when we give up our right to think, we are giving up our flexibility. He is saying that without the ability to believe for ourselves, we are no longer totally free. This quote functions as a reminder of the significance of securing our right to think and to make our own decisions. It is a reminder that without the right to think, we are no longer free.