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 Quote
An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.
- Thomas Paine Quote
But such is the irresistable nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Every religion is good that teaches man to be good; and I know of none that instructs him to be bad.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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 Quote
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 Quote
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 Quote
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 Quote
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
- Thomas Paine Quote
If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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 Quote
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 Quote
It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes.
- Thomas Paine Quote
It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.
- Thomas Paine Quote
My mind is my own church.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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 Quote
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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 Quote
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.
- Thomas Paine Quote
That government is best which governs least.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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.
- Thomas Paine Quote
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.
- Thomas Paine Quote
The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.
- Thomas Paine Quote
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.
- Thomas Paine Quote
The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.
- Thomas Paine Quote
The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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 Quote
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.
- Thomas Paine Quote
These are 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 now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
- Thomas Paine Quote
Time makes more converts than reason.
- Thomas Paine Quote
'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 Quote
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 Quote
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.
- Thomas Paine Quote
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 Quote
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
- Thomas Paine Quote
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.
- Thomas Paine Quote
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.
- Thomas Paine Quote
