1737-1809, Anglo-American Political Theorist, Writer
A bad cause will never be supported by bad means and bad men.
Thomas Paine – [Causes]
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 – [Thoughts and Thinking]
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 – [Moderation]
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 – [Religion]
Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.
Thomas Paine – [Belief]
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
Thomas Paine – [Character]
Every religion is good that teaches man to be good; and I know of none that instructs him to be bad.
Thomas Paine – [Religion]
Everything that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'Tis time to part.
Thomas Paine – [Democracy]
He is not affected by the reality of distress touching his heart, but by the showy resemblance of it striking his imagination. He pities the plumage, but forgets the dying bird.
Thomas Paine – [Emotions]
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 – [Liberty]
Human nature is not of itself vicious.
Thomas Paine – [Human Nature]
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 – [Creeds]
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 – [Churches]
I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.
Thomas Paine – [Adversity]
It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.
Thomas Paine – [Questions]
It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.
Thomas Paine – [Hypocrisy]
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 – [Integrity]
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.
Thomas Paine – [Causes]
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
Thomas Paine – [Moderation]
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
Thomas Paine – [Deeds and Good Deeds]