https://mnhopkins.blogspot.com/2024/04/grow-brave-by-reflection-quotation-by.html Thomas Paine was an influential 18th-century writer of essays and pamphlets. During the American Revolution, Paine served as a volunteer personal assistant to General Nathanael Greene, traveling with the Continental Army. While not a natural soldier, Paine contributed to the patriot cause by inspiring the troops with his 16 "Crisis" papers, which appeared between 1776 and 1783.