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.

“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

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

— Thomas Paine

Smile

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

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

— Thomas Paine

Good

“It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.”

— Thomas Paine

Happiness

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

— Thomas Paine

Religion

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

— Thomas Paine

Freedom

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

— Thomas Paine

Fear

“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

“Human nature is not of itself vicious.”

— Thomas Paine

Nature

“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

“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

— Thomas Paine

Anger

“Time makes more converts than reason.”

— Thomas Paine

Time

“But such is the irresistable nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.”

— Thomas Paine

Nature

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

— Thomas Paine

Government

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

— Thomas Paine

Peace

“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

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

— Thomas Paine

Religion

“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