Count the Cost

A spirited appeal from the early 1800s, this address invites the people of Connecticut to pause before reshaping their government. Its author frames the debate as a timeless question—“Will the tower you wish to build be worth the cost?”—and urges citizens to measure ambition against the likely benefits and harms.

The pamphlet paints a vivid portrait of a thriving Commonwealth: fertile soil, a healthy climate, thriving schools, and a robust system of public and private learning. It celebrates a constitution already praised for liberty and fairness, warning that unchecked zeal and crafty schemers could undermine those hard‑won advantages. By championing truth over darkness, the writer asks readers to let reason, not passion, guide their judgment.

Listeners will hear a reasoned, historically grounded argument that balances pride in local achievements with a sober reminder: any great change demands careful accounting of its price.