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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.

“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

All Quotes by Thomas Paine

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

— Thomas Paine

Freedom

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

“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

“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

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

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

— Thomas Paine

Religion

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

— Thomas Paine

Great

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

— Thomas Paine

Religion

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

— Thomas Paine

Men

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

— Thomas Paine

Smile

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

— Thomas Paine

God

“Human nature is not of itself vicious.”

— Thomas Paine

Nature

“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

“'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

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

— Thomas Paine

Truth

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

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

— Thomas Paine

Motivational

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

— Thomas Paine

Power

“It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes.”

— Thomas Paine

God

“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