Quotes By Thomas Paine

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

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

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.

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 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.

Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles; he can only discover them.

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

The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.

The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy.

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.

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

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.