English - Writer | January 29, 1737 - June 8, 1809
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
HappinessManBelieveBelievingHe
The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.
StrengthFearPowerResistance
Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.
ReligionTyrannyWorstAffect
The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.
KindReasonAgainstWeaponErrors
He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third.
FaithBetterTyrannyRebelReason
To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not.
FreedomPeoplePovertyChoiceSay
Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.
BlessingBestGovernmentEvilWorst
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.
GovernmentSocietySecurityPlace
Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.
GoodSocietyMeanCompanionSouls
My mind is my own church.
MindChurchMy OwnOwn
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.
MenShadowThinkingHorizonLiberty
Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.
ReligionLawAlwaysReligionsAny
Copyright © 2024 QuotesDict Thomas Paine quotes