Government is a necessary evil Thomas Paine More Quotes by Thomas Paine More Quotes From Thomas Paine Now, which am I to believe, a book that any impostor might make and call the Word of God, or the creation itself which none but an Almighty Power could make? For the Bible says one thing; and the creation says the contrary. The Bible represents God with all the passions of a mortal, and the creation proclaims him with all the attributes of a God. Thomas Paine passion believe book Oppression is often the consequence, but seldom or never the means of riches. Thomas Paine riches oppression mean The balance of power is the scale of peace. Thomas Paine second-amendment arms balance Customs will often outlive the remembrance of their origin. Thomas Paine positive-atheism remembrance atheism The circumstances of the world are continually changing, and the opinions of men change also; and as government is for the living, and not for the dead, it is the living only that has any right in it. That which may be thought right and found convenient in one age, may be thought wrong and found inconvenient in another. In such cases, who is to decide, the living, or the dead? Thomas Paine age men world We must be compelled to hold this doctrine to be false, and the old and new law called the Old and New Testament, to be impositions, fables and forgeries. Thomas Paine doctrine law religion Toleration is not the opposite of intoleration, but it is the counterfeit of it. Both are despotisms. The one assumes to itself the right of withholding liberty of conscience, and the other of granting it. The one is the pope, armed with fire and fagot, and the other is the pope selling or granting indulgences. Thomas Paine fire opposites religion His [Jesus'] historians, having brought him into the world in a supernatural manner, were obliged to take him out again in the same manner, or the first part of the story must have fallen to the ground. Thomas Paine stories religion jesus In a general view, there are few conquests that repay the charge of making them, and mankind are pretty well convinced that it can never be worth their while to go to war for profit's sake. If they are made war upon, their country invaded, or their existence at stake, it is their duty to defend and preserve themselves, but in every other light, and from every other cause, is war inglorious and detestable. Thomas Paine war peace country War is the gambling table of governments, and citizens the dupes of the game. Thomas Paine gambling government war War ought to be no man's wish. Thomas Paine wish men war All men can understand what representation is; and that it must necessarily include a variety of knowledge and talents. Thomas Paine politics political men The Almighty Lecturer, by displaying the principles of science in the structure of the universe, has invited man to study and to imitation. It is as if He has said to the inhabitants of this globe that we call ours, "I have made an earth for man to dwell upon, and I have rendered the starry heavens visible, to teach him science and the arts. He can now provide for his own comfort, and learn from my munificence to all to be kind to each other. Thomas Paine men heaven art 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 Thomas Paine government responsibility people It is, I believe, impossible to find in any story upon record so many and such glaring absurdities, contradictions, and falsehoods, as are in the books [The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John]. They are more numerous and striking than I had any expectation of finding, when I began this examination. Thomas Paine expectations believe book I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. Thomas Paine founding-fathers-atheist this-life believe That there are men in all countries who get their living by war, and by keeping up the quarrels of nations, is as shocking as it is true; but when those who are concerned in the government of a country, make it their study to sow discord and cultivate predjudices between nations, it becomes the more unpardonable. Thomas Paine men war country People in general know not what wickedness there is in this pretended word of God. Brought up in habits of superstition, they take it for granted that the Bible is true, and that it is good; they permit themselves not to doubt of it, and they carry the ideas they form of the benevolence of the Almighty to the book which they have been taught to believe was written by his authority. Good heavens! It is quite another thing; it is a book of lies, wickedness, and blasphemy. Thomas Paine believe book lying It has been the scheme of the Christian Church, and of all the other invented systems of religion, to hold man in ignorance of the Creator, as it is of Government to hold man in ignorance of his rights. The systems of the one are as false as those of the other, and are calculated for mutual support. Thomas Paine ignorance christian men And this manner of speaking of the Almighty, as one would speak of a man, is consistent with nothing but the stupidity of the Bible. Thomas Paine stupidity bible men
