Few quotes are more inspirational than the words of Thomas Paine. In his 1795 essay, “The American Crisis,” he wrote, “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph! What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly. Heaven knows how to put a proper price on its goods.” To understand why these words are so powerful, let’s take an in-depth look at what they mean.
The first part of Paine’s quote speaks to the idea that if something comes too easily or cheaply to us, it is not as valuable as something for which we have worked hard. This is because when we work hard for something—whether it be a job promotion, an education degree, or even a new car—we appreciate it more and value it higher because of how much time and effort we put into achieving our goal.
The second part of Paine’s quote speaks to the idea that life is full of obstacles and hardships that can often seem insurmountable. But no matter how difficult things may seem at times, with enough perseverance and dedication anything can be achieved. After all, without struggle there would be no growth or progress; without failure there would be no success; without adversity there would be no triumph!
Finally, Paine’s words speak to the idea that nothing comes free in this world; everything has its own cost associated with it. This cost could either be money or even time invested into achieving a goal—but whatever form it takes, this cost must always be paid somehow. In other words, if you want something badly enough then you will have to make sacrifices in order to get it (or else you will never achieve your goals). That is why heaven knows how to put a proper price on its goods—because only through hard work and dedication can anything truly worthwhile be obtained.
Thomas Paine’s quote is both inspirational and timely in today's world. It serves as a reminder that nothing worth having ever comes easy—you must work hard for what you want in order to achieve true success and greatness! And although life may present us with many challenges along the way, it is those same challenges that help us grow and become who we are meant to be! So remember: The harder the conflict, the more glorious your triumph will be!