Thomas Paine

Quotes

Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.
These are the times that try men's souls.
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly... it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
Whenever we read the obscene stories, voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortous executions, the unrelenting vindictivenes, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistant that we called it the word of a Demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind, and, for my part, I sincerly detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.
When my country, into which I had just set my foot, was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir. It was time for every man to stir.
It is the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government.
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember, that virtue is not hereditary.
But where, says some, is the king of America? I’ll tell you friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the royal brute of Britain, Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be place thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king; and there ought to be no other.
Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.
The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
Better fare hard with good men than feast it with bad.
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.
He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
Human nature is not of itself vicious.
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
"What is it the Bible teaches us? - rapine, cruelty, and murder. What is it the Testament teaches us? - to believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be married, and the belief of this debauchery is called faith.
Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the bible is filled, it would seem more consistent that we called it the word of a demon than the Word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind.
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.
I fear not, I see not reason for fear. In the end we will be the victors. For though at times the flame of liberty may cease to shine, the ember will never expire.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value.
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice.
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
From such beginnings of governments, what could be expected, but a continual system of war and extortion?
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.
It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.
My mind is my own church.
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
That government is best which governs least.
The greatest remedy for anger is delay.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy.
The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.
There are two distinct classes of what are called thoughts: those that we produce in ourselves by reflection and the act of thinking and those that bolt into the mind of their own accord.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
Time makes more converts than reason.
Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues can but encourage one's own efforts.
We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities.
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf.
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church.
I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.
'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. 'Tis dearness only that gives everything its value.