Thomas Paine Quotes
`Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles; he can only discover them.
It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.
Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice
It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing or in disbelieving; it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe.
`Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace
Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law
The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authority; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow
There are two distinct classes of what are called thoughts: those that we produce in ourselves by reflection and the act of thinking, and those that bolt into the mind of their own accord
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.
Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
That government is best which governs least.
