Quote by Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

• Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

• A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.

• From such beginnings of governments, what could be expected, but a continual system of war and extortion?

• 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.

• 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.