Paine, Thomas (1737 – 1809),US patriot & political philosopher
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.
The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.
When we are planning for posterity (succession of future generations), we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.
I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.
A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice.
Better fare hard with good men than feast it with bad.
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing.
