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.

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

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.

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.

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

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value.

Human nature is not of itself vicious.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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.

These are the times that try men's souls.

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

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

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.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.

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.

We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.

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.

Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

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.

Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Better fare hard with good men than feast it with bad.

Whenever we read the obscene stories, voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortous executions, the unrelenting vindictivenes, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistant that we called it the word of a Demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind, and, for my part, I sincerly detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.

It is the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government.

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.