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Who really said it

These are the times that try men's souls

Written by Thomas Paine 1737–1809 · English-born American revolutionary pamphleteer
Verified Free to reuse

The opening sentence of “The American Crisis, No. 1,” first published on 19 December 1776. The wording is genuine and confirmed against the full primary text — it reads exactly “These are the times that try men’s souls.”

Last verified 16 Jul 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?

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“These are the times that try men's souls” Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1 (1776)

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Evoking the world of Thomas Paine — English-born American revolutionary, author of Common Sense. Theme: "These are the times that try men's souls". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

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Provenance

The source

Work
The American Crisis, No. 1
Author
Thomas Paine (writing as “the author of Common Sense”)
First published
19 December 1776, Philadelphia
Form
Revolutionary pamphlet / broadside

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

The opening lines of the pamphlet, as reproduced from the primary text.

Digitized broadside
The American Crisis (No. 1) at the Library of Congress
Full text of The American Crisis, No. 1

How we verified this

Public domain

“The American Crisis, No. 1” was first published in 1776, long before 1931, so the text is firmly in the public domain in the United States.

Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.

Context

Why it mattered

Paine wrote the first Crisis essay in December 1776, when Washington’s army was in retreat and the Revolution looked close to collapse. The pamphlet was meant to steel a demoralized public and a dwindling army.

According to tradition, Washington had it read aloud to his troops before they recrossed the Delaware to strike at Trenton on 26 December 1776.

“The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country…”

Explore

Filed under

More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.

Resilience Courage

Go further

Dig deeper

Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.

Full text of The Crisis, No. 1ushistory.org

The complete primary text, opening with the famous line.
The American Crisisen.wikipedia.org

Publication history and context of the pamphlet series.
1776 broadside (No. 1)loc.gov

Digitized period broadside printing at the Library of Congress.
The Writings of Thomas Paine, Vol. Igutenberg.org

Public-domain collected writings including The Crisis.
Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriotsbattlefields.org

American Battlefield Trust on the pamphlet's role at Trenton.

The author

About Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine

1737–1809 · English-born American revolutionary, author of Common Sense

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was an English-born political writer whose pamphlets helped galvanize the American Revolution. His Common Sense (January 1776) made the case for independence, and The American Crisis series that followed sustained morale through the war’s darkest months. He later wrote Rights of Man and The Age of Reason.

For writers & researchers

Cite this

Primary source — Chicago

Thomas Paine, “The American Crisis, No. 1” (Philadelphia, 19 December 1776).

MLA (9th ed.)

Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis, No. 1. Philadelphia, 19 Dec. 1776.

APA (7th ed.)

Paine, T. (1776). The American crisis, No. 1.

This verification page

Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘These are the times that try men's souls’?” Last verified 16 Jul 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/these-are-the-times-that-try-mens-souls/

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