Quote

We repose an unwise confidence in any government, or in any men, when we invest them officially with too much, or an unnecessary quantity of, discretionary power.

Thomas Paine

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Thomas Paine
Age: 72 †
Born: 1737
Born: January 29
Died: 1809
Died: June 8
Author
Entrepreneur
Journalist
Opinion Journalist
Philosopher
Politician
Prosaist
Writer
Thetford
Norfolk
Much
Repose
Men
Invest
Unnecessary
Quantity
Separation
Confidence
Discretionary
Power
Officially
Government
Unwise

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Human nature is not of itself vicious.
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An army of principles will penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.
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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.
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The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.
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If those to whom power is delegated do well, they will be respected if not, they will be despised.
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... in free countries the law ought to be King and there ought to be no other.
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The New Testament, they tell us, is founded upon the prophecies of the Old if so, it must follow the fate of its foundation.
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It is from our enemies that we often gain excellent maxims, and are frequently surprised into reason by their mistakes.
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Truth never envelops itself in mystery, and the mystery in which it is at any time enveloped is the work of its antagonist, and never of itself.
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The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing.
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I disbelieve all holy men and holy books.
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Lay then the axe to the root, and teach governments humanity. It is their sanguinary punishments which corrupt mankind.
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These are the times that try men's souls.
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Reason obeys itself and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
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