Quote

A single legislature, on account of the superabundance of its power, and the uncontrolled rabidity of its execution, becomes as dangerous to the principles of liberty as that of a despotic monarch.

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
Political
Execution
Power
Account
Accounts
Superabundance
Single
Uncontrolled
Becomes
Despotic
Principles
Monarch
Dangerous
Monarchs
Liberty
Legislature

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It can only be by blinding the understanding of man, and making him believe that government is some wonderful mysterious thing, that excessive revenues are obtained. Monarchy is well calculated to ensure this end. It is the popery of government a thing kept up to amuse the ignorant, and quiet them into taxes.
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The more acquisitions the government makes abroad, the more taxes the people have to pay at home.
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Liberty cannot be purchased by a wish.
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Government without a constitution, is a power without a right.
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When authors and critics talk of the sublime, they see not how nearly it borders on the ridiculous.
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For freemen like brothers agree With one spirit endured, they one friendship pursued, And their temple was Liberty Tree
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... a thirst for power is the natural disease of monarchy.
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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A government on the principles on which constitutional governments arising out of society are established, cannot have the right of altering itself. If it had, it would be arbitrary. It might make itself what it pleased and wherever such a right is set up, it shows there is no constitution.
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It is the fable of Jesus Christ, as told in the New Testament, and the wild and visionary doctrine raised thereon, against which I contend. The story, taking it as it is told, is blasphemously obscene.
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Yet this is trash that the Church imposes upon the world as the Word of God this is the collection of lies and contradictions called the Holy Bible! This is the rubbish called Revealed Religion!
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Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise.
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Man is not the enemy of man, but through the medium of a false system of Government. Instead, therefore, of exclaiming against the ambition of kings, the exclamation should be directed against the principle of such governments and instead of seeking to reform the individual, the wisdom of a nation should apply itself to reform the system.
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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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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.
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The final event to himself has been, that as he rose like a rocket, he fell like the stick.
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I die content, I die for the liberty of my country.
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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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But such is the irresistable nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.
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It is important that we should never lose sight of this distinction. We must not confuse the peoples with their governments.
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