Quotes By Thomas Paine

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

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.

Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one's own efforts.

Time makes more converts than reason.

That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.

Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

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

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

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.

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

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.

War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end; it has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes.

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.

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

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.

Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.

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

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

These are the times that try men's souls.

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

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

The greatest remedy for anger is delay.

My mind is my own church.

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

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

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

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

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

Human nature is not of itself vicious.