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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.

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“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.”

— Thomas Paine

Business

All Quotes by Thomas Paine

“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 greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

— Thomas Paine

Anger

“To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not.”

— Thomas Paine

Freedom

“Persecution is not an original feature in any religion but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.”

— Thomas Paine

Religion

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

“I believe in the equality of man and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.”

— Thomas Paine

Equality

“Reputation is what men and women think of us character is what God and angels know of us.”

— Thomas Paine

God

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

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

— Thomas Paine

Government

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

— Thomas Paine

Faith

“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

“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

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

— Thomas Paine

Best

“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.”

— Thomas Paine

Peace

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

— Thomas Paine

Men

“One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.”

— Thomas Paine

Good

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

— Thomas Paine

Freedom

“Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.”

— Thomas Paine

Religion

“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

“'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