# How does Essays develop the theme of Natural Rights and Equality?

> Essays by Thomas Paine

## Answer

Essays by Thomas Paine develops Natural Rights and Equality across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The book argues that all people are born with inherent natural rights, including liberty, equality, and property, and that government must be founded on these principles rather than on hereditary privilege or divine right.

Paine asserts that all men are born equal and have natural rights that cannot be surrendered to a monarch.

Paine asserts that all men are originally equal and that monarchy violates natural rights by exalting one man above others.

Grounds the critique in the Rights of Man, equality, and the rejection of inherited authority over others.

## Evidence

- [common-sense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/common-sense.md): Paine asserts that all men are born equal and have natural rights that cannot be surrendered to a monarch.
- [of-monarchy-and-hereditary-succession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/of-monarchy-and-hereditary-succession.md): Paine asserts that all men are originally equal and that monarchy violates natural rights by exalting one man above others.
- [royalty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/royalty.md): Grounds the critique in the Rights of Man, equality, and the rejection of inherited authority over others.
- [declaration-of-rights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/declaration-of-rights.md): The chapter explicitly defines natural rights (liberty, equality, security, property, social protection, resistance to oppression) and asserts that the maintenance of these rights is the object of society.
- [dissertation-on-first-principles-of-government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/dissertation-on-first-principles-of-government.md): Paine asserts that hereditary government violates natural rights, and that equality of rights is the only just foundation for voting and representation.
- [agrarian-justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/agrarian-justice.md): Argues that the earth was originally the common property of all, and that private appropriation creates a debt owed to those who are excluded from their natural inheritance.
- [author-s-inscription](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/author-s-inscription.md): Paine argues for equality in natural property (earth, air, water) and the inherent right of suffrage, independent of tax payments.
- [agrarian-justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/essays_3_se/chapters/agrarian-justice.md): Paine asserts that every person is born with a right to a share of the earth's natural property, and that civilization should not make anyone worse off than in the natural state.

## Links

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