These are the times that try men’s souls: the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and of man and woman. tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: ’tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods, and it should be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but ‘to bind us in all cases whatsoever,’ and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to god. what is the purpose of the passage? a) to summarize the nation's views of the war b) to instruct young soldiers on the proper means of battle c) to establish the relationship americans had with england at that time d) to persuade soldiers to consider the value of freedom and fight for it