That government is best which governs least. - Thomas Paine
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. - Thomas Paine
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. - 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
Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness. - Thomas Paine
The Christian religion is a parody on the worship of the sun, in which they put a man called Christ in the place of the sun, and pay him the adoration originally payed to the sun. - Thomas Paine
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. - Thomas Paine
A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody. - Thomas Paine
Better fare hard with good men than feast it with bad. - Thomas Paine
Human nature is not of itself vicious. - Thomas Paine
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. - Thomas Paine
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it. - Thomas Paine
These are the times that try men's souls. - Thomas Paine
Nothing, they say is more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than the time of dying - Thomas Paine
He who dares not offend cannot be honest. - Thomas Paine
Ignorance is of a peculiar nature; once dispelled, it is impossible to reestablish it. It is not originally a thing of itself, but is only the absence of knowledge; and though man may be kept ignorant, he cannot be made ignorant. - 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
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow. - 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
We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in. - Thomas Paine
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine
Let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarcy, that in America the law is King. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other. - Thomas Paine
We have it in our power to begin the world over again. - Thomas Paine
Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. - 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
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
The greatest remedy for anger is delay. - Thomas Paine
Character is much easier kept than recovered. - 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
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
What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; it's dearness only that gives everthing its value. - Thomas Paine
Let them call me a rebel and welcome. I feel no concern from it. But should I suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul. - Thomas Paine
That there are men in all countries who get their living by war, and by keeping up the quarrels of Nations is as shocking as it is true... - Thomas Paine
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. - Thomas Paine
The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. - Thomas Paine
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
Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. - Thomas Paine
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. - Thomas Paine
A hereditary monarch is as absurd a position as a hereditary doctor or mathematician. - Thomas Paine
Wer seine eigene Freiheit sichern will, muss selbst seinen Feind vor Unterdrückung schützen. - Thomas Paine
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary. - 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
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value. - Thomas Paine
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 the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government. - Thomas Paine
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember, that virtue is not hereditary. - Thomas Paine
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security. - Thomas Paine
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. - Thomas Paine