T

Thomas Paine

44 quotes

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was an English-born American political activist, philosopher, and revolutionary whose pamphlet *Common Sense* helped ignite the American Revolution. His writings — passionate, accessible, and radical — championed democratic government, human rights, and reason over tradition. Paine's ideas shaped the founding principles of the United States.

“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

— Thomas Paine

Good

All Quotes by Thomas Paine

“Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil in its worst state, an intolerable one.”

— Thomas Paine

Best

“The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”

— Thomas Paine

Good

“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

— Thomas Paine

Good

“Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.”

— Thomas Paine

Faith

“Time makes more converts than reason.”

— Thomas Paine

Time

“The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.”

— Thomas Paine

Fear

“A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue but moderation in principle is always a vice.”

— Thomas Paine

Good

“Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.”

— Thomas Paine

Religion

“That God cannot lie, is no advantage to your argument, because it is no proof that priests can not, or that the Bible does not.”

— Thomas Paine

God

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

— Thomas Paine

Motivational

“It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.”

— Thomas Paine

Truth

“'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.”

— Thomas Paine

Business

“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.”

— Thomas Paine

Peace

“Every religion is good that teaches man to be good and I know of none that instructs him to be bad.”

— Thomas Paine

Good

“These are the times that try men's souls.”

— Thomas Paine

Men

“War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end it has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes.”

— Thomas Paine

War

“The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.”

— Thomas Paine

Government

“All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.”

— Thomas Paine

Power

“When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.”

— Thomas Paine

Men

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

— Thomas Paine

Freedom