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It is from our enemies that we often gain excellent maxims, and are frequently surprised into reason by their mistakes.
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
Reason
Excellent
Enemies
Gain
Gains
Mistakes
Mistake
Maxims
Enemy
Frequently
Often
Surprised
More quotes by Thomas Paine
To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.
Thomas Paine
It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war the cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf.
Thomas Paine
Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.
Thomas Paine
Every Tory is a coward for servile, slavish, self-interested fear is the foundation of Toryism and a man under such influence, though he may be cruel, never can be brave.
Thomas Paine
There is something absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.
Thomas Paine
Prophesying is lying professionally.
Thomas Paine
To believe that God created a plurality of worlds, at least as numerous as what we call stars, renders the Christian faith at once little and ridiculous and scatters it in the mind like feathers in the air.
Thomas Paine
He who takes nature for his guide, is not easily beaten out of his argument
Thomas Paine
Therefore we say that a lying Spirit has been in the mouth of the writers of the books of the Bible.
Thomas Paine
Government has no right to make itself a party in any debates respecting the principles or mode of forming or of changing, constitutions. It is not for the benefit of those who exercise the powers of government, that constitutions, and the governments issuing from them, are established.
Thomas Paine
The right of voting for representatives , is the primary right by which other rights are protected.
Thomas Paine
As my object was not myself, I set out with the determination, and happily with the disposition, of not being moved by praise or censure, friendship or calumny, nor of being drawn from my purpose by any personal altercation and the man who cannot do this, is not fit for a public character.
Thomas Paine
Let them call me rebel, and welcome, I feel no concern from it.
Thomas Paine
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!
Thomas Paine
Men should not petition for rights, but take them
Thomas Paine
The essential psychological requirement of a free society is the willingness on the part of the individual to accept responsibility for his life. - Edith Packer When the government fears the people, it is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny.
Thomas Paine
Moderation in temper is always a virtue but moderation in principle is always a vice.
Thomas Paine
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.
Thomas Paine
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.
Thomas Paine
Taxes were not raised to carry on wars, but that wars were raised to carry on taxes.
Thomas Paine
