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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.

“'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

“He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death.”

— Thomas Paine

Death

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

— Thomas Paine

God

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

— Thomas Paine

Men

“Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles he can only discover them.”

— Thomas Paine

Science

“He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third.”

— Thomas Paine

Faith

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

— Thomas Paine

Faith

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

— Thomas Paine

Government

“Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.”

— Thomas Paine

Great

“Human nature is not of itself vicious.”

— Thomas Paine

Nature

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

— Thomas Paine

Religion

“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”

— Thomas Paine

Smile

“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

“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

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

“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

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

— Thomas Paine

Freedom

“Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.”

— Thomas Paine

Religion

“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

“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”

— Thomas Paine

Power

“Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.”

— Thomas Paine

Good