Thomas Paine Motivation Quotations

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.

It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance.

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

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

It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending, and whether we defeat the enemy in one battle, or by degrees, the consequences will be the same.

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

Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.

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

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

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

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.

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.

These are the times that try men's souls.

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

We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities.

My mind is my own church.

Time makes more converts than reason.

Human nature is not of itself vicious.