Thomas Paine quotes - page 4

Peace, which costs nothing, is attended with infinitely more advantage, than any victory with all its expence. (Thomas Paine)
But there is another and greater distinction for which no truly natural or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men into KINGS and SUBJECTS. Male and female are the distinctions of nature, good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth enquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind. View quote
Thomas Paine
We hold that the moral obligation of providing for old age, helpless infancy, and poverty, is far superior to that of supplying the invented wants of courtly extravagance, ambition and intrigue. View quote
Thomas Paine
When the tongue or the pen is let loose in a phrenzy of passion, it is the man, and not the subject, that becomes exhausted. View quote
Thomas Paine
I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. View quote
Thomas Paine
It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime. View quote
Thomas Paine
A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. View quote
Thomas Paine
If the slavery of the parents be unjust, much more is their children's; if the parents were justly slaves, yet the children are born free; this is the natural, perfect right of all mankind; they are nothing but a just recompense to those who bring them up: And as much less is commonly spent on them than others, they have a right, in justice, to be proportionably sooner free. View quote
Thomas Paine
Contemplating the universe, the whole system of creation, in this point of light, we shall discover, that all that which is called natural philosophy is properly a divine study- It is the study of God through his works - It is the best study, by which we can arrive at a knowledge of the existence, and the only one by which we can gain a glimpse of his perfection. Do we want to contemplate his power? We see it in the immensity of the Creation. Do we want to contemplate his wisdom? We see it in the unchangeable order by which the incomprehensible Whole is governed. Do we want to contemplate his munificence? We see it in the abundance with which he fills the earth. Do we want to contemplate his mercy? We see it in his not withholding that abundance even from the unthankful. In fine, do we want to know what God is? Search not written or printed books, but the Scripture called the Creation. View quote
Thomas Paine
The past treatment of Africans must naturally fill them with abhorrence of Christians; lead them to think our religion would make them more inhuman savages, if they embraced it; thus the gain of that trade has been pursued in opposition to the Redeemer's cause, and the happiness of men: Are we not, therefore, bound in duty to him and to them to repair these injuries, as far as possible, by taking some proper measures to instruct, not only the slaves here, but the Africans in their own countries? Primitive Christians laboured always to spread their Divine Religion; and this is equally our duty while there is an Heathen nation: But what singular obligations are we under to these injured people! View quote
Thomas Paine
Wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for God's sake let us come to a final separation. (Thomas Paine)
We live to improve, or we live in vain. View quote
Thomas Paine
Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all others, the most improper to defend us. View quote
Thomas Paine
Independence 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. View quote
Thomas Paine
We have every opportunity and every encouragement before us, to form the noblest purest constitution on the face of the earth. We have it in our power to begin the world over again. View quote
Thomas Paine
I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. View quote
Thomas Paine
The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related, that it is difficult to class them separately. View quote
Thomas Paine
It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error. But nature has not given to everyone a talent for that purpose; and among those to whom such a talent is given, there is often a want of disposition or of courage to do it. View quote
Thomas Paine
The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason. I have never used any other, and I trust I never shall. View quote
Thomas Paine
The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark. View quote
Thomas Paine
The duty of man is not a wilderness of turnpike gates, through which he is to pass by tickets from one to the other. It is plain and simple, and consists but of two points. His duty to God, which every man must feel; and with respect to his neighbor, to do as he would be done by. If those to whom power is delegated do well, they will be respected: if not, they will be despised; and with regard to those to whom no power is delegated, but who assume it, the rational world can know nothing of them. (Thomas Paine)
It is by distortedly exalting some men, that others are distortedly debased, till the whole is out of nature. View quote
Thomas Paine
Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise. View quote
Thomas Paine
From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom. View quote
Thomas Paine
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. View quote
Thomas Paine