To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.
THOMAS PAINEIndependence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
More Thomas Paine Quotes
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What is it the Bible teaches us? – raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New 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.
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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.
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A constitution defines and limits the powers of the government it creates. It therefore follows, as a natural and also a logical result, that the governmental exercise of any power not authorized by the constitution is an assumed power, and therefore illegal.
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The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind.
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The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.
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Virtue is not hereditary.
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It is easy to see that when republican virtue fails, slavery ensues.
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One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.
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Beware the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry.
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When it becomes necessary to do a thing, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it.
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We repose an unwise confidence in any government, or in any men, when we invest them officially with too much, or an unnecessary quantity of, discretionary power.
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There are two distinct classes of men – those who pay taxes and those who receive and live upon taxes.
THOMAS PAINE -
Every proprietor owes to the community a ground-rent for the land which he holds.
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A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
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Reason and Ignorance, the opposites of each other, influence the great bulk of mankind. If either of these can be rendered sufficiently extensive in a country, the machinery of Government goes easily on. Reason obeys itself; and Ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
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Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.
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The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case.
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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The Deist needs none of those tricks and shows called miracles to confirm his faith, for what can be a greater miracle than the creation itself, and his own existence?
THOMAS PAINE -
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
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What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.
THOMAS PAINE -
The right of voting for representatives , is the primary right by which other rights are protected.
THOMAS PAINE -
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
THOMAS PAINE -
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
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It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt.
THOMAS PAINE -
I consider the war of America against Britain as the country’s war, the public’s war, or the war of the people in their own behalf, for the security of their natural rights, and the protection of their own property.
THOMAS PAINE