Thomas Paine knew how to motivate people.

On Dec. 23, 1776, Paine started penning “The Crisis,” a series of essays that summed up the country’s dismal fortunes under British tyranny and summoned fearful, reluctant patriots to cast aside their doubts of success and redouble their commitment to independence.

His essays were snapshots of a country facing incredible odds against powerful forces over which asserting control was believed impossible. This scenario was as true in 1776 as it is today, as the country faces economic challenges so far immune to its attempts to control.

Just as the scenario was true, so is Paine’s message. Which begs an interesting question – if alive today, how would America’s first rabble-rouser inspire us to face the challenges ahead?

Perhaps it would sound something like this:

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The feckless partisan and the feeble financier will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but they who stand by it now deserve the love and thanks of every hardworking American.

Economic uncertainty, like hell, is not easily conquered, yet we have this consolation with us: that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

The recession has taught us that what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness that only gives everything its value.

Whether the announcement of recession was declared too soon, or delayed too long, is not worth entering into argument. If eight months earlier, it would have been better. We did not make a proper use of last winter, nor could we, while we were in such a politicized state.

However, the fault, if there were one, was all our own. We have none to blame but ourselves.

But nothing is lost yet.

It is surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them. Yet panics, in some cases, have their uses; they produce as much good as hurt. Their duration is always short; the mind soon grows through them and acquires a firmer habit than before. But their peculiar advantage is that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered.

In fact, they have the same effect on secret traitors, which an imaginary apparition would have upon a private murderer. They sift out the hidden thoughts of man, and hold them up in public to the world.

I call not upon few but all, not in this state or that state, but every state. Lay your shoulders to the wheel, better too much force than too little, when so great an objective is at stake.

Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope was promised, the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it.”

Wise words, with which we’re sure Paine would agree.