Thomas Paine

“Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.”

“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

“It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes.”

“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”

“One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.”

“Every religion is good that teaches man to be good and I know of none that instructs him to be bad.”

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

“To establish any mode to abolish war, however advantageous it might be to Nations, would be to take from such Government the most lucrative of its branches.”

“But such is the irresistable nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.”

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

“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.”

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

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil in its worst state an intolerable one.”

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. '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.”

“'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.”

“I believe in the equality of man and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.”

“Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.”

“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.”

“The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.”

“To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not.”

“Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”

“That God cannot lie, is no advantage to your argument, because it is no proof that priests can not, or that the Bible does not.”

“There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice.”