Quote

Oppression is often the consequence, but seldom or never the means of riches and tho' avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor, it generally makes him too timorous to be wealthy.

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
Generally
Timorous
Consequence
Avarice
Poor
Preserve
Means
Wealthy
Often
Seldom
Makes
Oppression
Never
Riches
Men
Greed

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Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.
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Tears may soothe the wounds they cannot heal.
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The Almighty implanted in us these inextinguishable feelings for good and wise purposes. They are the guardians of His image in our heart. They distinguish us from the herd of common animals.
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Change of ministers amounts to nothing. One goes out, another comes in, and still the same measures, vices, and extravagances are pursued. It signifies not who is minister. The defect lies in the system. The foundation and superstructure of the government is bad. Prop it as you please, it continually sinks and ever will.
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Where there are no distinctions there can be no superiority perfect equality affords no temptation.
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The more we bestow the richer we become.
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It is only by the exercise of reason that man can discover God.
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If there was ever a just war since the world began, it is this in which America is now engaged.
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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.
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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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The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.
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It is not the nature of avarice to be satisfied with anything but money. Every passion that acts upon mankind has a peculiar mode of operation. Many of them are temporary and fluctuating they admit of cessation and variety. But avarice is a fixed, uniform passion.
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Where knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime.
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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.
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A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.
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Prejudice will fall in a combat with interest.
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Men did not make the earth... It is the value of the improvements only, and not the earth itself, that is individual property. ... Every proprietor owes to the community a ground rent for the land which he holds.
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Not all the treasures of the world, so far as I believe, could have induced me to support an offensive war, for I think it murder but if a thief breaks into my house, burns and destroys my property, and kills or threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to bind me in all cases whatsoever to his absolute will, am I to suffer it?
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