From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom. Thomas Paine More Quotes by Thomas Paine More Quotes From Thomas Paine The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools, in teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only, has been that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism. Instead of looking through the works of creation to the Creator himself, they stop short, and employ the knowledge they acquire to create doubts of his existence. They labour with studied ingenuity to ascribe every thing they behold to innate properties of matter, and jump over all the rest by saying, that matter is eternal. Thomas Paine teachingphilosophyschool How necessary it is at all times to watch against the attempted encroachment of power, and to prevent its running to excess. Thomas Paine powerrunningwatches The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind. Thomas Paine ignorantpoliticalgovernment We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in. Thomas Paine freedompaincountry Our present condition is, Legislation without law; wisdom without a plan; a constitution without a name; and, what is strangely astonishing, perfect independence contending for dependence. Thomas Paine lawnamesperfect It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Thomas Paine respectfaithhappiness Death is not the monarch for the dead, but of the dying. The moment he obtains a conquest he loses a subject. Thomas Paine momentsdyingdeath When it becomes necessary to do a thing, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it. Thomas Paine soulhearttrying When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. Thomas Paine patrioticfreedompain Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortuous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we call it the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind. Thomas Paine faith-religionreligiousbible I do not believe that any two men, on what are called doctrinal points, think alike who think at all. It is only those who have not thought that appear to agree. Thomas Paine menbelievethinking On this question of war, three things are to be considered. First, the right of declaring it: secondly, the expense of supporting it: thirdly, the mode of conducting it after it is declared. Thomas Paine threewarfirsts Prejudice, like the spider, makes everywhere its home. It has neither taste nor choice of place, and all that it requires is room. If the one prepares her food by poisoning it to her palate and her use, the other does the same. Prejudice may be denominated the spider of the mind. Thomas Paine choicesmindhome The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow. Thomas Paine being-strongperseverancestrength The most horrible wickedness and cruelties, and the greatest miseries that have troubled the human race began with this thing called revelation, or revealed religion. ... It would be far, far better for us to let a thousand devils roam the world, and publicly preach the doctrine of devils (if there were such a thing, which there isn't), than to let one impostor and monster such a Moses, Joshua, Samuel or the Bible prophets come speaking the so-called word of God, and causing men to believe it. Thomas Paine racemenbelieve All the tales of miracles, with which the Old and New Testament are filled, are fit only for impostors to preach and fools to believe. Thomas Paine miraclebelievereligion Everything wonderful in appearance has been ascribed to angels, to devils, or to saints. Everything ancient has some legendary tale annexed to it. The common operations of nature have not escaped their practice of corrupting everything. Thomas Paine angelpracticereligion We feel something like respect for consistency even in error. We lament the virtue that is debauched into a vice; but the vice that affects a virtue becomes the more detestable. Thomas Paine consistencyerrorsvices Truth never envelops itself in mystery, and the mystery in which it is at any time enveloped is the work of its antagonist, and never of itself. Thomas Paine mysteryhonestytruth Suspicion and persecution are weeds of the same dunghill, and flourish best together. Thomas Paine suspicionweedtogether
