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How necessary it is at all times to watch against the attempted encroachment of power, and to prevent its running to excess.

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
Necessary
Watches
Watch
Politics
Times
Encroachment
Running
Attempted
Power
Excess
Prevent

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Those who knew Benjamin Franklin will recollect that his mind was forever young, his temper ever serene science, that never grows gray, was always his mistress. He was never without an object, for when we cease to have an object, we become like an invalid in a hospital waiting for death.
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What at first was plunder assumed the softer name of revenue.
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I am sensible that he who means to do mankind a real service must set down with the determination of putting up, and bearing with all their faults, follies, prejudices and mistakes until he can convince them that he is right.
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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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Mingling religion with politics may be disavowed and reprobated by every inhabitant of America.
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It is a fraud of the Christian system to call the sciences human invention it is only the application of them that is human.
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Youth is the seed time of good habits, as well in nations as in individuals.
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Where knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime.
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Civilization, or that which is so called, has operated two ways to make one part of society more affluent and the other part more wretched than would have been the lot of either in a natural state.
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In the progress of politics, as in the common occurrences of life, we are not only apt to forget the ground we have travelled over, but frequently neglect to gather up experiences as we go.
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...the Bible is such a book of lies and contradictions there is no knowing which part to believe or whether any.
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Mystery is the antagonist of truth. It is a fog of human invention, that obscures truth, and represents it in distortion.
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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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It may perhaps be said that it signifies nothing to a man what is done to him after he is dead but it signifies much to the living it either tortures their feelings or hardens their hearts.
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The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
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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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The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.
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Beware the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry.
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He who takes nature for his guide, is not easily beaten out of his argument
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When it becomes necessary to do a thing, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it.
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