These are the times that try men's souls

Cultural  

1. The opening words of the series of pamphlets The American Crisis, by Thomas Paine, begun in late 1776. Paine, seeking to stir up revolutionary spirit in the colonies, continues, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot may, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”

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Paine's words are still quoted occasionally in troublesome situations.

Example Sentences

These are the times that try men’s souls.

From Washington Post • Feb. 2, 2018

His text: Tom Paine's "These are the times that try men's souls."

From Time Magazine Archive

A thousand times since then I have found inspiration and strength in the thrilling words, "These are the times that try men's souls."

From Labor and Freedom by Debs, Eugene V.

His pamphlet, Common Sense, issued in 1776, began with the famous words: "These are the times that try men's souls."

From Brief History of English and American Literature by Beers, Henry A. (Henry Augustin)

Does not that remind you of the not-to-be-forgotten opening words of "The Crisis": "These are the times that try men's souls"?

From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 09 Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Reformers by Hubbard, Elbert