Ignorance is of a peculiar nature; once dispelled, it is impossible to reestablish it. It is not originally a thing of itself, but is only the absence of knowledge; and though man may be kept ignorant, he cannot be made ignorant. Thomas Paine More Quotes by Thomas Paine More Quotes From Thomas Paine It is unpleasant to see character throw itself away. Thomas Paine politics political character A government on the principles on which constitutional governments arising out of society are established, cannot have the right of altering itself. If it had, it would be arbitrary. It might make itself what it pleased; and wherever such a right is set up, it shows there is no constitution. Thomas Paine government principles would-be Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others. Thomas Paine benefits design government Better fare hard with good men than feast it with bad. Thomas Paine good-man 4th-of-july men To bring the matter to one point, Is the power who is jealous of our prosperity, a proper power to govern us? Whoever says, No, to this question, is an independent, for independency means no more than this, whether we shall make our own law, or, whether the king, the greatest enemy which this continent hath, or can have, shall tell us there shall be no laws but such as I like. Thomas Paine jealous kings mean Lay then the axe to the root, and teach governments humanity. It is their sanguinary punishments which corrupt mankind. Thomas Paine punishment government roots I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe in the equality of humans; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow creatures happy. Thomas Paine religious happiness life Wisdom is not the purchase of a day Thomas Paine In Deism our reason and our belief are happily united. Thomas Paine deism belief reason The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries, that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called revelation, or revealed religion. Thomas Paine wickedness atheism race Every Tory is a coward; for servile, slavish, self-interested fear is the foundation of Toryism; and a man under such influence, though he may be cruel, never can be brave. Thomas Paine brave self men "Government," says Swift, "is a plain thing, and fitted to the capacity of many heads." Thomas Paine politics political government As my object was not myself, I set out with the determination, and happily with the disposition, of not being moved by praise or censure, friendship or calumny, nor of being drawn from my purpose by any personal altercation; and the man who cannot do this, is not fit for a public character. Thomas Paine determination character men It is unnatural that a pure stream should flow from a foul fountain its vices are but a continuation of the vices of its origin. A man of moral honor and good political principles, cannot submit to the mean drudgery and disgraceful arts, by which such elections are carried. To be a successful candidate, he must be destitute of the qualities that constitute a just legislator: and being thus disciplined to corruption it is not to be expected that the representative should be better than the man. Thomas Paine successful mean art It is from the power of taxation being in the hands of those who can throw so great a part of it from their own shoulders, that it has raged without a check. Thomas Paine taxation political hands And as to you, Sir, treacherous in private friendship and a hypocrite in public life, the world will be puzzled to decide whether you are an apostate or an impostor; whether you have abandoned good principles, or whether you ever had any. Thomas Paine pain hypocrite principles Whatever is my right as a man is also the right of another; and it becomes my duty to guarantee as well as to possess. Thomas Paine duty guarantees men No falsehood is so fatal as that which is made an article of faith. Thomas Paine articles made religion It is far better that we admitted a thousand devils to roam at large than that we permitted one such imposter and monster as Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and the Bible prophets, to come with the pretended word of God and have credit among us. Thomas Paine devil monsters religion Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise. Thomas Paine government kings dresses
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