Thomas Paine Quotes

• The circumstances of the world are continually changing, and the opinions of men change also; and as government is for the living, and not for the dead, it is the living only that has any right in it. That which may be thought right and found convenient in one age, may be thought wrong and found inconvenient in another. In such cases, who is to decide, the living, or the dead?

  Thomas Paine

  Tags in Government, Change/Growth

• We hold the moral obligation of providing for old age, helpless infancy, and poverty is far superior to that of supplying the invented wants of courtly extravagance.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Justice

  Tags in Government, Poverty

• The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Mistake

  Tags in Reason

• The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related, that it is difficult to class them separately. One step above the sublime makes the ridiculous, and one step above the ridiculous makes the sublime again.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Uncategorized

• 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.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Conflict, Purpose, Conscience, Difficulties, Creed, Credo

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

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Ethics, Evil, Reason, Thinking, Ignorance, Mind

• To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Argument, Reason

• My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Religion

  Tags in Good, Globalism, Creed, Credo

• 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.

  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.

  I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine. But 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.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Belief, Religion

  Tags in Integrity/Individuality, Religious Freedom, Hypocrisy, Christianity, Faith

• I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow creatures happy.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Belief, Justice, Kindness, Religion, Service

  Tags in Believe, Happy, Creed, Credo

• The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Society

  Tags in Government

• Time makes more converts than reason.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in Time, Reason

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

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in War, Time

• Peace, which costs nothing, is attended with with infinitely more advantage than any victory with all its expense.

  Thomas Paine

  Topics in Uncategorized

  Tags in War

Thomas Paine (74)

Birth:	29th January, 1737
Death:	8th June, 1809
Nationality:	American, British
Profession:	Activist, Author, Theorist

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