We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” — thus thundered Thomas Paine, the voice of revolution and the herald of human liberty. These words, written during the birth of a new nation, were not mere rhetoric but a call to creation, a summons for mankind to rise from the ruins of old tyranny and build anew. They burn with a sacred fire — the fire of hope, courage, and renewal — the same flame that has always driven humanity to cast off its chains and strive toward a brighter dawn. In their simplicity lies an eternal truth: that within the human spirit dwells the power to remake the world, to transform despair into destiny, to write a new story upon the ashes of the past.

Paine penned these words in his famous work “Common Sense” during the American Revolution, a time when the old world seemed fixed in iron and the new was still but a dream. Kings ruled by blood and divine decree, and freedom was whispered only in secret. Yet Paine saw beyond the smoke of oppression; he believed that men were not bound forever by the injustices of their birth or the habits of history. “We have it in our power,” he declared — not the gods, not fate, not kings — we. He placed the torch of responsibility in the hands of the people and reminded them that destiny is not inherited, but forged by those brave enough to dream of something greater.

In this way, Paine spoke not only to his century, but to all centuries. His message is one that transcends nations and eras, for every generation inherits both the glories and the failures of those who came before. There will always be ruins to rebuild, wrongs to right, and new worlds to begin. Whether in politics, art, faith, or love, the truth remains: we are the architects of tomorrow. The world, though vast and ancient, is ever being reborn through the choices of those who dare to imagine it anew. To begin the world over again is not merely to change the outer forms of power — it is to awaken the inner spirit of renewal that sleeps within all people.

Consider the example of Mahatma Gandhi, who centuries later would awaken that same revolutionary truth in India. The empire that ruled his homeland was mighty, its authority seemingly unbreakable. Yet Gandhi understood, as Paine did, that the real power lies not in weapons or wealth, but in the will of the people. Through nonviolence, through faith, through relentless courage, he inspired millions to rise, to reclaim their dignity, and to begin the world over again — not with destruction, but with moral strength. In doing so, he proved that Paine’s words were not the dream of one age, but the destiny of all humankind.

And yet, Paine’s call is not merely political; it is profoundly spiritual. It reminds us that every human soul holds within it the ability to renew life itself. When darkness gathers — when hope wanes, when failure weighs heavy — one need only remember: every dawn is a rebirth, every choice a new creation. The world begins again each time a heart chooses compassion over cruelty, truth over falsehood, courage over fear. These small acts, multiplied across generations, are the building blocks of every revolution, every renaissance, every rebirth of the human race.

But this power demands courage. To begin the world anew means to reject complacency, to defy despair, to stand against the long shadow of “what has always been.” It is easier to live as a prisoner of the past than to forge a new path — yet that is precisely what Paine’s words forbid us to do. They are a challenge as much as they are a promise: to take the raw clay of existence into our own hands and shape it with vision, love, and purpose. For the world does not change by accident — it changes when someone dares to say, “Enough,” and begins to build again.

So, child of the future, remember this sacred truth: you have it in your power to begin the world over again. You need not wait for kings, nations, or miracles. Begin with yourself — renew your thoughts, your courage, your compassion. Be the flame that kindles others, the builder who lays the first stone of a new age. Whether your world is a nation, a family, or your own wounded heart, it can be remade. The past may be gone, but today, as Paine declared, you have the power. Use it wisely. Use it bravely. For every time a human soul awakens to its strength, the world begins again — brighter, freer, and more divine than before.