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.
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 PAINETaxes were not raised to carry on wars, but that wars were raised to carry on taxes.
THOMAS PAINEIt 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.
THOMAS PAINERights are not gifts from one man to another, nor from one class of men to another. It is impossible to discover any origin of rights otherwise than in the origin of man; it consequently follows that rights appertain to man in right of his existence, and must therefore be equal to every man.
THOMAS PAINEThe strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.
THOMAS PAINECharacter is much easier kept than recovered.
THOMAS PAINEWe have it in our power to begin the world over again.
THOMAS PAINEThe World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
THOMAS PAINEWhen it becomes necessary to do a thing, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it.
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 PAINEWhere knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime.
THOMAS PAINEVirtue is not hereditary.
THOMAS PAINEThe slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.
THOMAS PAINEWhen extraordinary power and extraordinary pay are allotted to any individual in a government, he becomes the center, round which every kind of corruption generates and forms.
THOMAS PAINEHe who dares not offend cannot be honest.
THOMAS PAINEIt is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error.
THOMAS PAINE