Thomas Paine

Explore 29 quotes by Thomas Paine

My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.

Thomas Paine

Rights of Man

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Topic

Citizens of the world Religion

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Rights of Man

Genre

Philosophical literature Political literature

Language

English

Time

1792 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. Rights of man. Part the second. London: J. S. Jordan, 1792.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Rights of Man Part the second." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009.

But where says some is the king of America?...In America the law is king.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

Rule of law

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, sect. 3.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 3.

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.

Thomas Paine

The Crisis

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Topic

American Revolution

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The Crisis

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis: Number 1. Philadelphia: Styner and Cist, 1776.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The American Crisis, Number I, December 19, 1776." Common Sense, The Crisis, & Other Writings from the American Revolution. Library of America, 2015.

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that 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. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial and article as Freedom should not be highly rated.

Thomas Paine

The American Crisis

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Topic

Price of freedom Benefits of adversity American Revolution

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The American Crisis

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis: Number 1. Philadelphia: Styner and Cist, 1776.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The American Crisis, Number I, December 19, 1776." Common Sense, The Crisis, & Other Writings from the American Revolution. Library of America, 2015.

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

America

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, 1776.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, introduction.

He who dares not offend cannot be honest.

Thomas Paine

The Forester's Letters

More information about this quote

Topic

Politeness

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The Forester's Letters

Medium

Open letter

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. Letter to Cato. 22 Apr. 1776.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Letter III, April 22, 1776." Common Sense, The Crisis, & Other Writings from the American Revolution. Library of America, 2015.

When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

Anti-monarchism Political theory

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, sect. 4.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 4.

I believe in one God and no more, and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow creatures happy.

Thomas Paine

The Age of Reason

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Topic

Monotheism Moral obligations

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The Age of Reason

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Profession of faith

Language

English

Time

1794 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The Age of Reason, Part I. London: Joel Barlow, 1794.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The Age of Reason, Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology (1794)." Selected Writings of Thomas Paine, edited by Ian Shapiro and Jane E. Calvert. Yale University Press, 2014.

The church has set up a system of religion very contradictory to the character of the person whose name it bears. It has set up a religion of pomp and of revenue in pretended imitation of a person whose life was humility and poverty.

Thomas Paine

The Age of Reason

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Topic

The Church

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The Age of Reason

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1794 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The Age of Reason, Part I. London: Joel Barlow, 1794.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The Age of Reason, Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology (1794)." Selected Writings of Thomas Paine, edited by Ian Shapiro and Jane E. Calvert. Yale University Press, 2014.

I compare it to something behind a curtain, about which there is a great deal of bustle and fuss, and a wonderful air of seeming solemnity; but when by an accident, the curtain happens to be opened, and the company see what it is, they burst into laughter.

Thomas Paine

Rights of Man

On monarchy.

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Topic

Monarchy

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Rights of Man

Genre

Philosophical literature Political literature

Language

English

Time

1792 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. Rights of man. Part the second. London: J. S. Jordan, 1792.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Rights of Man Part the second." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009.

The American Constitutions were to Liberty what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax.

Thomas Paine

Rights of Man

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Topic

US Constitution

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Rights of Man

Genre

Philosophical literature Political literature

Language

English

Time

1791 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man. London: J. S. Jordan, 1791.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Rights of Man." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009.

It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending, and whether we defeat the enemy in one battle, or by degrees, the consequences will be the same.

Thomas Paine

The American Crisis

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Topic

American Revolution

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The American Crisis

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1777 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis: Number 4. Philadelphia: Styner and Cist, 1777.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The American Crisis, Number IV, September 12, 1777." Common Sense, The Crisis, & Other Writings from the American Revolution. Library of America, 2015.

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.

Thomas Paine

The Age of Reason

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Topic

Intellectual integrity

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The Age of Reason

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1794 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The Age of Reason, Part I. London: Joel Barlow, 1794.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The Age of Reason, Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology (1794)." Selected Writings of Thomas Paine, edited by Ian Shapiro and Jane E. Calvert. Yale University Press, 2014.

Monarchy and succession have laid... The world in blood and ashes.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

Monarchy

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, sect. 2.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 2.

We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

Changing the world Taking action Politics

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, 1776.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009.

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

Downsides of government Government Politics

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, sect. 1.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 1.

Any system of religion that has any thing in it that shocks the mind of a child cannot be a true system.

Thomas Paine

The Age of Reason

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Topic

Religion

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The Age of Reason

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Religious literature Philosophical literature

Language

English

Time

1794 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The Age of Reason, Part I. London: Joel Barlow, 1794.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The Age of Reason, Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology (1794)." Selected Writings of Thomas Paine, edited by Ian Shapiro and Jane E. Calvert. Yale University Press, 2014.

Wisdom is not the purchase of a day.

Thomas Paine

The Crisis

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Topic

Acquiring wisdom Wisdom

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

The Crisis

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. The American Crisis: Number 1. Philadelphia: Styner and Cist, 1776.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "The American Crisis, Number I, December 19, 1776." Common Sense, The Crisis, & Other Writings from the American Revolution. Library of America, 2015.

As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of all government, to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith.

Thomas Paine

Common Sense

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Topic

Freedom of religion Religion and politics

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Common Sense

Medium

Pamphlet

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1776 1770s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas [published anonymously]. Common Sense. Philadelphia: R. Bell, sect. 4.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009, sect. 4.

Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly-marked feature of all law-religions, or religions established by law.

Thomas Paine

Rights of Man

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Topic

Religious persecution

Author

Thomas Paine

Source

Rights of Man

Genre

Philosophical literature Political literature

Language

English

Time

1791 1790s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Paine, Thomas. Rights of Man. London: J. S. Jordan, 1791.

Current Citation

Paine, Thomas. "Rights of Man." Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings, edited by Mark Philp. Oxford University Press, 2009.