Wisdom is not the purchase of a day, and it is no wonder that we should err at the first setting off. Thomas Paine More Quotes by Thomas Paine More Quotes From Thomas Paine Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title. The thing is perfectly harmless in itself, but it marks a sort of foppery in the human character, which degrades it. Thomas Paine nicknames titles character Human nature is not of itself vicious. Thomas Paine vicious motivation nature A constitution, therefore, is to a government what the laws made afterwards by that government are to a court of judicature. The court of judicature does not make the laws, neither can it alter them; it only acts in conformity to the laws made: and the government is in like manner governed by the constitution. Thomas Paine government law doe To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin. Thomas Paine clear government ideas It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration. Thomas Paine magnitude consideration taken It may perhaps be said that it signifies nothing to a man what is done to him after he is dead; but it signifies much to the living; it either tortures their feelings or hardens their hearts. Thomas Paine feelings heart men Public credit is suspicion asleep. Thomas Paine suspicion credit ...the true greatness of a nation is founded on principles of humanity. Thomas Paine greatness principles humanity What more does man want to know than that the hand or power that made these things is divine, is omnipotent? Let him believe this with the force it is impossible to repel, if he permits his reason to act, and his rule of moral life will follow of course. Thomas Paine men believe hands It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending, and whether we defeat the enemy in one battle, or by degrees, the consequences will be the same. Thomas Paine pain motivation enemy It can only be by blinding the understanding of man, and making him believe that government is some wonderful mysterious thing, that excessive revenues are obtained. Monarchy is well calculated to ensure this end. It is the popery of government; a thing kept up to amuse the ignorant, and quiet them into taxes. Thomas Paine mysterious-things men believe The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind. Thomas Paine common-sense causes america If the present generation, or any other, are disposed to be slaves, it does not lessen the right of the succeeding generation to be free: wrongs cannot have a legal descent. Thomas Paine succeed generations doe Man did not make the earth, and though he had a natural right to occupy it, he had no right to locate as his property in perpetuity, any part of it. Thomas Paine land earth men As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of all government to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith. Thomas Paine government states church The greatest characters the world has known, have rose on the democratic floor. Aristocracy has not been able to keep a proportionate pace with democracy. Thomas Paine democracy rose character Let the world see that this nation can bear prosperity; and that her honest virtue in time of peace is equal to her bravest valor in time of war. Thomas Paine war peace world A bad cause will ever be supported by bad means and bad men. Thomas Paine causes men mean A man may write himself out of reputation when nobody else can do it. Thomas Paine writing may men Whatever has a tendency to promote the civil intercourse of nations by an exchange of benefits is a subject as worthy of philosophy as of politics. Thomas Paine tendencies benefits philosophy
