Thomas Paine

Bekannte Zitate von Thomas Paine

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

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

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.

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

When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.

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.

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

These are the times that try men's souls.

I believe in the equality of man and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.

He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third.

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.

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.

It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes.

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil in its worst state an intolerable one.

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

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.

It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.

Reputation is what men and women think of us character is what God and angels know of us.

That God cannot lie, is no advantage to your argument, because it is no proof that priests can not, or that the Bible does not.

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

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

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

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.

The greatest remedy for anger is delay.

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

To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not.

My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.