Thomas Paine & the Right to “Begin the World”

Imagine this: on your 21st birthday, the government deposits money into your account — not as a reward, not as a loan, but as a right.

The money is there to help you “begin the world”: start a small business, move to a new city, study, or simply escape deep poverty.

This radical idea is not from a modern politician or a start-up founder. It comes from Thomas Paine, an 18th-century writer and revolutionary thinker, who wrote about:

“…a plan for meliorating the conditions of man by creating in every nation, a national fund, to pay to every person, when arriving at the age of twenty-one years, the sum of fifteen pounds sterling, to enable him or her to begin the world!”

In this blog post, we’ll explore what Paine meant, how his idea connects to Universal Basic Income (UBI) and social welfare, and why his vision of opportunity, dignity, and fairness still speaks to us today.

🧠 “A Fund to Begin the World”

When Thomas Paine proposed a national fund for every young adult, he was not daydreaming. He was making a serious political and moral argument. In his time, society was deeply unequal. Land, wealth, and power were mostly in the hands of a small elite, while many people lived in poverty, working long hours just to survive.

Paine believed that every human being had inherent worth and dignity, simply because they were human. He argued that the earth itself was a common gift from God to all people, not just to the rich. However, because land and resources had been taken and enclosed by private owners over time, most people no longer had direct access to the means of living. This, in his view, created a kind of injustice.

His solution was bold: create a national fund that would pay every young person a fixed sum of money at the age of 21. This payment would not be charity, but compensation for the loss of natural access to land and opportunity. Paine’s idea was that this money would help a young person begin the world — to rent a place to live, buy tools, start a trade, or gain some independence from their parents or employers.

If we translate Paine’s idea into modern language, it sounds very similar to Universal Basic Income (UBI) or at least a one-time basic capital grant. Today, many people argue that in a world of expensive housing, unstable jobs, and rapid automation, some form of guaranteed income could help reduce inequality and give people a real chance to shape their own future. Paine’s proposal was not just about money; it was about freedom and agency — the ability to make real choices.

Paine was also careful to explain that his plan was practical. The national fund would be created through taxes on inherited property and large estates. In other words, those who received great wealth from previous generations would give back a small part of it to support the next generation. This would not destroy private property, but it would moderate extreme inequality and redistribute a little power.

From a modern perspective, his plan raises interesting questions. Would such a fund make young people lazy, or would it encourage entrepreneurship and innovation? Would people waste the money, or would they invest it wisely? We can look at real examples today: in some countries, citizens receive regular dividends from natural resources, like oil or minerals. In others, there are special savings accounts or grants for students and young people. These programs show that giving people a financial foundation can support education, health, and small business development.

At the same time, critics worry about dependency on government payments and the financial burden on the state. Paine, however, believed that the cost of deep poverty, social conflict, and crime was actually higher. For him, a fairer start in life would create a more stable, peaceful, and cooperative society. He saw his plan as a way of meliorating — improving — the human condition, not by controlling people, but by empowering them.

For language learners and global citizens today, Paine’s proposal is also a powerful reminder that ideas matter. The way we design our economic systems, taxes, and social policies reflects what we believe about human beings. Do we see people as problems to manage, or as potential to develop? Paine clearly chose the second view. He believed that ordinary people, if given a fair start, could contribute creatively and productively to their communities.

In the 21st century, debates about UBI, youth unemployment, housing crises, and inequality show that we are still wrestling with the same core issues. Paine’s old-fashioned phrase, “to begin the world,” invites us to ask: what would it look like if every young adult truly had the resources to start life with hope, security, and freedom?

🧩 Vocabulary Builder

• meliorating – improving or making something better
  Example: Policies aimed at meliorating living conditions often focus on health and housing.

• conditions (of man) – the general situation or quality of people’s lives (work, housing, rights, etc.)
  Example: The report described the poor conditions of workers in the factory.

• national fund – a pool of money controlled by the state for a specific purpose
  Example: The government created a national fund to support students from low-income families.

• inherent – existing as a natural or basic part of something
  Example: Many people believe that human beings have inherent dignity and rights.

• elite – a small, powerful group with a lot of money, status, or influence
  Example: Political decisions were often made by a wealthy elite.

• inequality – an unfair situation where some people have more money, power, or opportunities than others
  Example: Rising inequality has become a major political issue in many countries.

• compensation – money given to make up for a loss, damage, or disadvantage
  Example: The company paid compensation to residents affected by the pollution.

• independence – the state of not depending on other people for money or support
  Example: Starting her own business gave her more independence.

• agency – the ability to act and make choices, rather than just being controlled by others
  Example: Social programs should increase people’s agency, not reduce it.

• redistribute – to share something out differently or more fairly
  Example: Some tax systems try to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor.

• entrepreneurship – the activity of starting and running your own business
  Example: The city offers training to support youth entrepreneurship.

• dependency – when someone or something relies too much on another person, group, or system
  Example: Long-term dependency on welfare can be a concern for policymakers.

• burden – something difficult or heavy that you must deal with (financial, emotional, etc.)
  Example: The cost of healthcare can be a heavy burden for low-income families.

• dividends – regular payments of profits to people who own shares or rights in something
  Example: Citizens receive dividends from the country’s oil revenues every year.

• empowering – giving someone power, confidence, or control over their own life
  Example: Education is often described as empowering for individuals and communities.

💬 Idioms & Phrasal Verbs

• To get a head start – to have an advantage at the beginning
  Example: Receiving a financial grant at 21 would help young adults get a head start in life.

• To level the playing field – to make a situation fair for everyone
  Example: A national fund could help level the playing field between rich and poor families.

• To make ends meet – to have just enough money to live
  Example: Without support, many young people struggle to make ends meet.

• To break the cycle – to stop a negative pattern from continuing
  Example: Early financial support can break the cycle of poverty for many families.

• To fall through the cracks – to be missed or forgotten by a system
  Example: Paine worried about people who fell through the cracks of society.