Government is best which governs least.
THOMAS PAINEGovernment is best which governs least.
THOMAS PAINETo argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.
THOMAS PAINEWe have it in our power to begin the world over again.
THOMAS PAINEReligion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.
THOMAS PAINEThe strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.
THOMAS PAINEReason 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.
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.
THOMAS PAINEPractical religion consists in doing good: and the only way of serving God is that of endeavoring to make His creation happy. All preaching that has not this for its object is nonsense and hypocrisy.
THOMAS PAINENo 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.
THOMAS PAINEMen should not petition for rights, but take them.
THOMAS PAINEThe 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.
THOMAS PAINEWhere knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime.
THOMAS PAINEIt is always to be taken for granted, that those who oppose an equality of rights never mean the exclusion should take place on themselves.
THOMAS PAINEThe harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
THOMAS PAINEIt is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.
THOMAS PAINEIt has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt.
THOMAS PAINE