# Thomas Paine — The Rights of Man character guide > Thomas Paine in The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Paine, Mr. Paine **First appearance:** 0001-the-rights-of-man ## Snapshot A Quaker-bred firebrand who turned American independence into a universal creed and now answers Burke with the first complete statement of republican principles. ## Who they are Paine writes as a man who once counted Burke a friend to mankind and now must publicly break with him, dedicating his treatise to Washington and his second part to Lafayette. His politics grow straight from his early Quakerism: if every soul is a child of God, then rank and privilege collapse into universal brotherhood, and government shrinks to a mere association for defending rights the individual cannot defend alone. He and Lafayette differ only on timing — Paine wants principles hurried, not lingered — and that impatience drives the book's urgency. ## Relationships ### [Edmund Burke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/edmund_burke) _rivalry_ Burke and Paine were fierce ideological opponents, with Burke's conservative critique of the French Revolution directly countered by Paine's radical defense in 'Rights of Man'. ### [Thomas Rickman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/thomas_rickman) _friendship_ Paine and Rickman were close friends and allies, with Rickman often supporting Paine's publishing efforts and personal welfare. ### [King John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/king_john) _rivalry_ King John and Paine were antagonists, likely representing monarchical opposition to Paine's republican and revolutionary ideas. ### [Benjamin Franklin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/benjamin_franklin) _friendship_ Franklin and Paine shared a warm mentor-friend relationship, with Franklin encouraging Paine's emigration to America and supporting his early career. ### [Louis XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/louis_xvi) _rivalry_ Louis XVI and Paine were ideological enemies, with Paine advocating for the king's overthrow and execution during the French Revolution. ### [George Chalmers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/george_chalmers) _rivalry_ Chalmers, writing under a pseudonym, authored a hostile biography of Paine, making them bitter literary adversaries. ### [George Washington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/george_washington) _friendship_ Washington and Paine were allies during the American Revolution, with Paine's writings bolstering morale and Washington's leadership. ### [Edmund Burke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/edmund_burke) _rivalry_ Burke and Paine were fierce ideological opponents, with Burke's conservative critique of the French Revolution directly countered by Paine's radical defense in 'Rights of Man'. ### [Louis XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/louis_xvi) _rivalry_ Louis XVI and Paine were ideological enemies, with Paine advocating for the king's overthrow and execution during the French Revolution. ### [King John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/king_john) _rivalry_ King John and Paine were antagonists, likely representing monarchical opposition to Paine's republican and revolutionary ideas. ## In the story ### [Editor's Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/editor-s-introduction) Central figure of the introduction; author of 'Rights of Man,' inventor of an iron bridge, advocate of republican principles and peaceful revolution, friend of Jefferson and Lafayette. ### [The Rights of Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/the-rights-of-man) Author and central figure, arguing for the rights of man and against Burke's critique. ### [Part First: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke’s Attack on the French Revolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/part-first-being-an-answer-to-mr-burke-s-attack-on-the-french-revolution) Author and primary voice of the chapter, defending the French Revolution. ### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/dedication) Author of the treatise, presenting it in defense of freedom and expressing a prayer for the New World to regenerate the Old. ### [Paine's Preface to the English Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/paine-s-preface-to-the-english-edition) Paine narrates his own actions, including writing to Burke, promising to answer Burke's pamphlet, and attempting to foster peace between England and France. ### [Paine's Preface to the French Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/paine-s-preface-to-the-french-edition) Author of the preface, addressing the French edition. ### [Rights of Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/rights-of-man) Paine writes the chapter as a direct response to Burke, defending the principles of the French Revolution and natural rights. ### [Miscellaneous Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/miscellaneous-chapter) Paine presents his own arguments against hereditary government, advocating for the right of each generation to choose its own form of government. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/conclusion) Author of the chapter; presents the concluding arguments for republican government and against hereditary monarchy. ### [Part Second: Combining Principle and Practice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/part-second-combining-principle-and-practice) Author and primary voice, arguing for the union of principle and practice in government. ### [French Translator’s Preface (1792)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/french-translator-s-preface-1792) Praised as 'that man of freedom' who preached 'Common Sense' to the world; described as an uncorrupted friend of freedom, single-minded and austere, bred away from courts. ### [To M. de la Fayette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/to-m-de-la-fayette) Author of the treatise; expresses his renewed public engagement and desire to hasten the spread of revolutionary principles. ### [Ways and Means of Improving the Condition of Europe: Interspersed with Miscellaneous Observations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/v-ways-and-means-of-improving-the-condition-of-europe-interspersed-with-miscellaneous-observations) Author of the chapter, advocating for peaceful reform and European alliances. ### [Appendix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/appendix) Author of the work, recounts the printer's refusal and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the delay. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/chapters/endnotes) Author of the endnotes; reflects on his own political writings and career. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters/thomas_paine - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rights_of_man_se/characters