It is a general idea, that when taxes are once laid on, they are never taken off. Thomas Paine More Quotes by Thomas Paine More Quotes From Thomas Paine I have never made it a consideration whether the subject was popular or unpopular, but whether it was right or wrong; for that which is right will become popular, and that which is wrong, though by mistake it may obtain the cry or fashion of the day, will soon lose the power of delusion, and sink into disesteem. Thomas Paine fashion mistake may It is not a charity but a right, not bounty but justice, that I am pleading for. The present state of civilization is as odious as it is unjust. It is absolutely the opposite of what it should be, and it is necessary that a revolution should be made in it. The contrast of affluence and wretchedness continually meeting and offending the eye, is like dead and living bodies chained together Thomas Paine offending eye opposites 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 motivation integrity happiness Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must undertake to support it. Thomas Paine support freedom blessing What is called a republic, is not any particular form of government ... it is naturally opposed to the word monarchy, which means arbitrary power. Thomas Paine political government mean But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to doubt the truth of the Christian religion; and well they may, for it is too fanciful and too full of conjecture, inconsistency, improbability and irrationality, to afford consolation to the thoughtful man. His reason revolts against his creed. He sees that none of its articles are proved, or can be proved. Thomas Paine christian men thinking The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and the advantages to result from them, are sufficiently seen and understood. Thomas Paine revolution principles danger It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt Thomas Paine careers hypocrisy men Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. Thomas Paine wisdom mean country As to the book called the bible, it is blasphemy to call it the Word of God. It is a book of lies and contradictions and a history of bad times and bad men. Thomas Paine religious christian lying Reason and Ignorance, the opposites of each other, influence the great bulk of mankind. If either of these can be rendered sufficiently extensive in a country, the machinery of Government goes easily on. Reason obeys itself; and Ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. Thomas Paine government ignorance country When my country, into which I had just set my foot, was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir. It was time for every man to stir. Thomas Paine patriotic 4th-of-july country Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness. Thomas Paine 4th-of-july government evil The Church was resolved to have a New Testament, and as, after the lapse of more than three hundred years, no handwriting could be proved or disproved, the Church, which like former impostors had then gotten possession of the State, had everything its own way. It invented creeds, such as that called the Apostle's Creed, the Nicean Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and out of the loads of rubbish that were presented it voted four to be Gospels, and others to be Epistles, as we now find them arranged. Thomas Paine church years religion All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit. Thomas Paine atheist christian inspirational Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. Thomas Paine pain motivation vices In reviewing the history of the English Government, its wars and its taxes, a bystander, not blinded by prejudice nor warped by interest, would declare that taxes were not raised to carry on wars, but that wars were raised to carry on taxes. Thomas Paine bystanders government war A Constitution is not the act of a Government, but of a people constituting a government, and a government without a constitution is a power without right. Thomas Paine constitution government people If anything had or could have a value equal to gold and silver, it would require no tender law; and if it had not that value it ought not to have such a law; and, therefore, all tender laws are tyrannical and unjust and calculated to support fraud and oppression. Thomas Paine support gold law Great part of that order which reigns among mankind is not the effect of government. It has its origin in the principles of society and the natural constitution of man. It existed prior to government, and would exist if the formality of government was abolished. The mutual dependence and reciprocal interest which man has upon man, and all the parts of civilised community upon each other, create that great chain of connection which holds it together. Thomas Paine community men order
