"we have boasted the protection of great britain, without considering, that her motive was interest not attachment; and that she did not protect us from our enemies on our account; but from her enemies on her own account, from those who had no quarrel with us on any other account and who will always be our enemies on the same account." – thomas paine, common sense how did this excerpt motivate colonists to support replacing the government of great britain? by telling them britain cares only about its own interests by telling them britain has a lot of enemies around the world by pointing out britain's enemies are the colonies' enemies by pointing out britain cannot and will not protect the colonies