Thomas Paine Quotes

“Until an independence is declared the continent will feel itself like a man who continues putting off some unpleasant business from day to day, yet knows it must be done, hates to set about it, wishes it over, and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity.”

“In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion.”

“Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavored to subdue us, is of all others, the most improper to defend us.”

“The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind. ”

“And when a man seriously reflects on the idolatrous homage which is paid to the persons of kings, he need not wonder that the Almighty, ever jealous of his honor, should disapprove of a form of government which so impiously invades the prerogative of heaven.”

“Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England, that the same tyranny which drove the first immigrants from home, pursues their descendants still.”

“Ye that oppose independence now, ye know not what ye do; ye are opening a door to eternal tyranny, by keeping vacant the seat of government.”

“Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.”

“The more men have to lose, the less willing are they to venture. ”

“Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England and America, is a strong and natural proof, that the authority of the one, over the other, was never the design of Heaven.”

“Securing freedom and property to all men, and above all things, the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience.”

“From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom...”

“Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island”

“Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.”

“Give me liberty, or give me death.”

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

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

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one…”

“For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others for ever, and though himself might deserve SOME decent degree of honours of his contemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them. ”

“But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families.”

“Immediate necessity makes many things convenient, which if continued would grow into oppressions. Expedience and right are different things.”

“Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.”

“The more unnatural anything is, the more is it capable of becoming the object of dismal admiration.”

“It is only in the CREATION that all our ideas and conceptions of a word of God can unite.”

“My own mind is my own church.”

“There is room for millions of worlds as large or larger than ours, and each of them millions of miles apart from each other.”

“I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.”

“Whether we sleep or wake, the vast machinery of the universe still goes on.”