Thomas Paine was an English-born American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. He authored the two most influential pamphlets whose writings influenced the American Revolution, and helped pave the way for the Declaration of Independence. Insightful Thomas Paine quotes reveal his free thoughts on common sense, rights of man, the revolutionary war, the duty of a patriot and liberty.
If you’re searching for thoughtful activist quotes that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of profound Thomas Jefferson quotes, Edmund Burke quotes, and wise Benjamin Franklin quotes.
Most Famous Thomas Paine Quotes
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. Thomas Paine
The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark. Thomas Paine
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. Thomas Paine
These are the times that try men’s souls. 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
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture. Thomas Paine
We have it in our power to begin the world over again. Thomas Paine
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it. Thomas Paine
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right. 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
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. Thomas Paine
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. Thomas Paine
Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man. Thomas Paine
It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine, and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man. Thomas Paine
It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes. Thomas Paine
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason. Thomas Paine
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. Thomas Paine
When it can be said by any country in the world, my poor are happy, neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them, my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars, the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive, the rational world is my friend because I am the friend of happiness. When these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and government. Independence is my happiness, the world is my country and my religion is to do good. Thomas Paine
Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it. Thomas Paine
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. Thomas Paine
Time makes more converts than reason. Thomas Paine
One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests. Thomas Paine
Human nature is not of itself vicious. Thomas Paine
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. Thomas Paine
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary. Thomas Paine
I have always strenuously supported the right of every man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it. Thomas Paine
Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title. Thomas Paine
He who dares not offend cannot be honest. Thomas Paine
Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst. Thomas Paine
A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody. Thomas Paine
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. Thomas Paine
We have it in our power to begin the world over again. Thomas Paine
Every religion is good that teaches man to be good; and I know of none that instructs him to be bad. Thomas Paine
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. Thomas Paine
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. 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
Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one’s own efforts. Thomas Paine
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. Thomas Paine
It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance. Thomas Paine
Time makes more converts than reason. Thomas Paine
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. Thomas Paine
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. Thomas Paine
The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. Thomas Paine
Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law. Thomas Paine
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. Thomas Paine
Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory to itself than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid or produces only atheists or fanatics. As an engine of power, it serves the purpose of despotism, and as a means of wealth, the avarice of priests, but so far as respects the good of man in general it leads to nothing here or hereafter. Thomas Paine
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. 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
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Thomas Paine
If I do not believe as you believe, it proves that you do not believe as I believe, and that is all that it proves. Thomas Paine
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. Thomas Paine
These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that 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. Thomas Paine
The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum. Thomas Paine
Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Thomas Paine
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. 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
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
From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom. Thomas Paine
Character is much easier kept than recovered. Thomas Paine
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. Thomas Paine
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. 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
These are the times that try men’s souls. Thomas Paine
Is it more probable that nature should go out of her course or that a man should tell a lie? We have never seen, in our time, nature go out of her course. But we have good reason to believe that millions of lies have been told in the same time. It is therefore at least millions to one that the reporter of a miracle tells a lie. Thomas Paine
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. Thomas Paine
One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in kings, is, that nature disapproves it, otherwise, she would not so frequently turn it into ridicule by giving mankind an ass for a lion. Thomas Paine
The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy. 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
The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance. Thomas Paine
Let them call me rebel and welcome, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man. Thomas Paine
There are two distinct classes of what are called thoughts those that we produce in ourselves by reflection and the act of thinking and those that bolt into the mind of their own accord. Thomas Paine
For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have the right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever, and tho himself might deserve some decent degree of honours of his cotemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them. Thomas Paine
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. Thomas Paine
Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. Thomas Paine
Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities. Thomas Paine
All the tales of miracles, with which the Old and New Testament are filled, are fit only for impostors to preach and fools to believe. Thomas Paine
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. 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
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. Thomas Paine
Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe. Thomas Paine
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace. Thomas Paine
When it shall be said in any country in the world my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want; the taxes are not oppressive; the rational world is my friend, because I am a friend of its happiness When these things can be said, there may that country boast its Constitution and its Government. Thomas Paine
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. 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
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture. Thomas Paine
Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise. 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
Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Thomas Paine
That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. Thomas Paine
Nothing, they say is more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than the time of dying. Thomas Paine
My mind is my own church. Thomas Paine
Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent; selected from the rest of mankind their minds are early poisoned by importance; and the world they act in differs so materially from the world at large, that they have but little opportunity of knowing its true interests, and when they succeed to the government are frequently the most ignorant and unfit of any throughout the dominions. Thomas Paine
Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true. Thomas Paine
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. Thomas Paine
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. Thomas Paine
In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion. Thomas Paine
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. Thomas Paine
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. Thomas Paine
Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law. Thomas Paine
The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason. I have never used any other, and I trust I never shall. 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
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; but when those who are concerned in the government of a country, make it their study to sow discord and cultivate predjudices between nations, it becomes the more unpardonable. Thomas Paine
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. Thomas Paine
Man did not enter society to be worse off, or to have fewer rights, but rather to have those rights better secured. Thomas Paine
It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration. Thomas Paine
But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. 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 study of theology, as it stands in Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authorities; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion. Not anything can be studied as a science, without our being in possession of the principles upon which it is founded; and as this is the case with Christian theology, it is therefore the study of nothing. Thomas Paine
An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot. Thomas Paine
