He who dares not offend cannot be honest.

Paine’s aphorism links moral truth-telling to social risk. To be “honest” in the full civic sense—speaking plainly about injustice, hypocrisy, or abuse of power—often means provoking disapproval from authorities, neighbors, or one’s own faction. The person who refuses ever to “offend” is therefore likely trimming facts, softening judgments, or staying silent to preserve comfort and acceptance. In Paine’s political worldview, candor is a public virtue: reform depends on citizens willing to endure backlash for naming wrongs. The line also warns against politeness as a mask for cowardice, suggesting that integrity sometimes requires confrontation.