Thomas Paine Quotes

"Character is much easier kept than recovered."
-Thomas Paine

"Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us."
-Thomas Paine in Character quotes.

"Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it."
-Thomas Paine in Ignorance quotes.

"I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection."
-Thomas Paine in Agreement quotes.

"When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary."
-Thomas Paine in Planning quotes.

"'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 in Principles quotes.

"The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."
-Thomas Paine in Mankind quotes.

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value."
-Thomas Paine

"These are the times that try men's souls."
-Thomas Paine

"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly... it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated."
-Thomas Paine

"The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection."
-Thomas Paine

"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."
-Thomas Paine in Trouble quotes.

"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

"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry."
-Thomas Paine

"Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."
-Thomas Paine

"Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness."
-Thomas Paine

"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

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the bible is filled, it would seem more consistent that we called it the word of a demon than the Word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind."
-Thomas Paine

"Human nature is not of itself vicious."
-Thomas Paine

"Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. "
-Thomas Paine

"When my country, into which I had just set my foot, was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir. It was time for every man to stir."
-Thomas Paine

"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
-Thomas Paine

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine

"I fear not, I see not reason for fear. In the end we will be the victors. For though at times the flame of liberty may cease to shine, the ember will never expire."
-Thomas Paine

"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead."
-Thomas Paine

"It is the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government."
-Thomas Paine

"'What is it the Bible teaches us? - rapine, cruelty, and murder. What is it the Testament teaches us? - to believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be married, and the belief of this debauchery is called faith."
-Thomas Paine