Thomas Paine's Quotes

The greatest remedy for anger is delay.

The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy.

Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one's own efforts.

When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.

Human nature is not of itself vicious.

It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.

Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title.

War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end; it has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes.

It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending, and whether we defeat the enemy in one battle, or by degrees, the consequences will be the same.

There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice.

'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.

Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles; he can only discover them.

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.

To establish any mode to abolish war, however advantageous it might be to Nations, would be to take from such Government the most lucrative of its branches.

The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

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

Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.

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.

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.

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.

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

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

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.

Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.

Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.

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.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.

Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.