Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
THOMAS PAINEGovernment, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
THOMAS PAINEFrom the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms! Through the land let the sound of it flee; Let the far and the near all unite, with a cheer, In defense of our Liberty Tree.
THOMAS PAINEA body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.
THOMAS PAINEWhen a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.
THOMAS PAINEWhere knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime.
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 PAINEThe Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed.
THOMAS PAINEThere are two distinct classes of men – those who pay taxes and those who receive and live upon taxes.
THOMAS PAINEWhat we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.
THOMAS PAINEThese are the times that try men’s souls.
THOMAS PAINEThe slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.
THOMAS PAINEVirtue is not hereditary.
THOMAS PAINEEvery proprietor owes to the community a ground-rent for the land which he holds.
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 PAINEIf there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
THOMAS PAINEIt is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.
THOMAS PAINE