Quotes By Thomas Paine

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

To establish any mode to abolish war, however advantageous it might be to Nations, would be to take from such Government the most lucrative of its branches.

The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.

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

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

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.

Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title.

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.

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.

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.

When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

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

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

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

These are the times that try men's souls.

It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.

'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.

The greatest remedy for anger is delay.

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

My mind is my own church.

The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

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.

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

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.

Human nature is not of itself vicious.

It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance.

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

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.

Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.