Who wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls."?

Thomas Paine in “The Crisis” wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls." It has been stated by historians that Paine was clearly saying that these are times that are going to test basic fundamental beliefs that people have about life, country, and loyalty. The times are going to see who is really a true patriot and who is not. The former deserve thanks and love from all good citizens while the latter deserve to be scorned. By saying “these are the times that try men’s souls,” Paine was obviously saying that these are the circumstances where we find out who fits in each of these two categories.

As a political philosopher and writer Thomas Paine (1737-1809) who was born in England, helped to shape many of the ideas that marked the Age of Revolution. Published in 1776, his highly popular "Common Sense" was the first pamphlet to advocate American independence.

Thomas Paine, who was seen as a radical writer, had emigrated from England to America in 1774. Just two years later, early in 1776, Paine published "Common Sense", a hugely influential pamphlet that convinced many American colonists that the time had finally come to break away from British rule.