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.
THOMAS PAINEThose who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must undertake to support it.
More Thomas Paine Quotes
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There are two distinct classes of men – those who pay taxes and those who receive and live upon taxes.
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One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.
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Government is not a trade which any man or body of men has a right to set up and exercise for his own emolument, but is altogether a trust, in right of those by whom that trust is delegated, and by whom it is always resumable. It has of itself no rights; they are altogether duties.
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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.
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The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.
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I have always strenuously supported the right of every man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it.
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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 right of voting for representatives , is the primary right by which other rights are protected.
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It is important that we should never lose sight of this distinction. We must not confuse the peoples with their governments.
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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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In Deism our reason and our belief become happily united. The wonderful structure of the universe, and everything we behold in the system of the creation, prove to us, far better than books can do, the existence of a God, and at the same time proclaim His attributes.
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No country can be called free which is governed by an absolute power; and it matters not whether it be an absolute royal power or an absolute legislative power, as the consequences will be the same to the people.
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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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We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
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The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.
THOMAS PAINE