Thomas Paine Quotes
Most popular Thomas Paine Quotes
![Youth is the seed-time of good habits, as well in nations as in individuals. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/82/32382A-youth-is-the-seed-time-of-good-habits-as-well-thomas-paine.png)
Youth is the seed-time of good habits, as well in nations as in individuals.
![My country is the world. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/01/10801A-my-country-is-the-world-thomas-paine.png)
My country is the world.
![Time makes more converts than reason. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/42/2942A-time-makes-more-converts-than-reason-thomas-paine.png)
Time makes more converts than reason.
![These are the times that try men's souls. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/43/2943A-these-are-the-times-that-try-mens-souls-thomas-paine.png)
These are the times that try men's souls.
![Where there is no danger, cowards are bold. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/98/28798A-where-there-is-no-danger-cowards-are-bold-thomas-paine.png)
Where there is no danger, cowards are bold.
![The belief in a cruel god makes a cruel man. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/69/31869A-the-belief-in-a-cruel-god-makes-cruel-man-thomas-paine.png)
The belief in a cruel god makes a cruel man.
![Character is much easier kept than recovered. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/76/2276A-character-is-much-easier-kept-than-recovered-thomas-paine.png)
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
![Every religion is good that teaches man to be good. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/83/38783A-every-religion-is-good-that-teaches-man-be-good-thomas-paine.png)
Every religion is good that teaches man to be good.
![We have it in our power to begin the world over again. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/54/52754A-we-have-it-in-our-power-begin-world-over-again-thomas-paine.png)
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
![My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/67/29367A-my-country-is-the-world-and-my-religion-is-do-thomas-paine.png)
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
![It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/45/245A-it-is-error-only-and-not-truth-that-shrinks-from-thomas-paine.png)
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.
![Governments arise either out of the people or over the people. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/93/8593A-governments-arise-either-out-of-the-people-or-over-people-thomas-paine.png)
Governments arise either out of the people or over the people.
![I am a farmer of thoughts, and all the crops I raise I give away. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/66/29366A-i-am-a-farmer-of-thoughts-all-crops-i-raise-thomas-paine.png)
I am a farmer of thoughts, and all the crops I raise I give away.
![The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/13/30313A-the-most-formidable-weapon-against-errors-every-kind-is-reason-thomas-paine.png)
The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason.
![A man may write himself out of reputation when nobody else can do it. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/43/38843A-a-man-may-write-himself-out-reputation-when-nobody-else-thomas-paine.png)
A man may write himself out of reputation when nobody else can do it.
![An army of principles will penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/19/38119A-an-army-of-principles-will-penetrate-where-army-soldiers-cannot-thomas-paine.png)
An army of principles will penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.
![Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/27/33327A-reason-obeys-itself-and-ignorance-submits-whatever-is-dictated-it-thomas-paine.png)
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
![The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/40/52740A-the-strength-and-power-of-despotism-consists-wholly-fear-resistance-thomas-paine.png)
The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.
![It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/16/32516A-it-is-necessary-to-the-happiness-man-that-he-be-thomas-paine.png)
It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself.
![He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/39/23139A-he-that-would-make-his-own-liberty-secure-must-guard-thomas-paine.png)
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression.
![Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/03/6003A-moderation-in-temper-is-always-a-virtue-but-moderation-principle-thomas-paine.png)
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
![Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/77/2277A-reputation-is-what-men-and-women-think-us-character-is-thomas-paine.png)
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
![Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/04/9604A-those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-freedom-must-undergo-thomas-paine.png)
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
![A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/20/12920A-a-long-habit-of-not-thinking-thing-wrong-gives-it-thomas-paine.png)
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
![Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/83/23283A-government-even-in-its-best-state-is-but-necessary-evil-thomas-paine.png)
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
![What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/62/6762A-what-we-obtain-too-cheap-we-esteem-too-lightly-it-thomas-paine.png)
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.
![Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/85/38785A-any-system-of-religion-that-has-anything-it-that-shocks-thomas-paine.png)
Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system.
![Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/09/31409A-those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessing-freedom-must-like-thomas-paine.png)
Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.
![Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/45/51045A-those-who-expect-to-reap-the-blessings-freedom-must-like-thomas-paine.png)
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
![When the government fears the people, it is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/94/8594A-when-the-government-fears-the-people-it-is-liberty-when-thomas-paine.png)
When the government fears the people, it is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny.
![Such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/38/41338A-such-is-the-irresistible-nature-of-truth-that-all-it-thomas-paine.png)
Such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.
![But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/28/4228A-but-such-is-the-irresistible-nature-truth-that-all-it-thomas-paine.png)
But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.
![I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/34/41234A-i-love-the-man-that-can-smile-trouble-that-can-thomas-paine.png)
I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.
![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 quote.](/img/q/03/41903A-he-who-is-the-author-of-war-lets-loose-whole-thomas-paine.png)
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.
![Society in every state is a blessing, but government, ever in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/95/8595A-society-in-every-state-is-a-blessing-but-government-ever-thomas-paine.png)
Society in every state is a blessing, but government, ever in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
![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 quote.](/img/q/40/14040A-a-thing-moderately-good-is-not-so-good-as-it-thomas-paine.png)
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.
![Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/07/32007A-independence-is-my-happiness-and-i-view-things-as-they-thomas-paine.png)
Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
![Most other passions have their periods of fatigue and rest; their suffering and their cure; but obstinacy has no resource, and the first wound is mortal. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/30/36730A-most-other-passions-have-their-periods-fatigue-rest-their-suffering-thomas-paine.png)
Most other passions have their periods of fatigue and rest; their suffering and their cure; but obstinacy has no resource, and the first wound is mortal.
![Persecution is not an original feature of any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of any law-religions, or religions established by law. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/48/37248A-persecution-is-not-an-original-feature-any-religion-but-it-thomas-paine.png)
Persecution is not an original feature of any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of any law-religions, or religions established by law.
![Men do not enter into society to become worse than they were before, nor to have fewer rights than they had before, but to have those rights better secured. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/21/8721A-men-do-not-enter-into-society-become-worse-than-they-thomas-paine.png)
Men do not enter into society to become worse than they were before, nor to have fewer rights than they had before, but to have those rights better secured.
![There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/26/51526A-there-are-matters-in-the-bible-said-be-done-by-thomas-paine.png)
There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice.
![I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow-creatures happy. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/92/51492A-i-believe-in-the-equality-of-man-i-believe-that-thomas-paine.png)
I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow-creatures happy.
![There are two distinct classes of what are called Thoughts: those that we produce in ourselves by reflection and the act of thinking, and those that bolt into the mind of their own accord. - Thomas Paine quote.](/img/q/02/41002A-there-are-two-distinct-classes-of-what-are-called-thoughts-thomas-paine.png)
There are two distinct classes of what are called Thoughts: those that we produce in ourselves by reflection and the act of thinking, and those that bolt into the mind of their own accord.
![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 quote.](/img/q/03/52703A-all-national-institutions-of-churches-whether-jewish-christian-or-turkish-thomas-paine.png)
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.
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.
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.
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.