More Quotes by Thomas Paine
These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
The slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.
When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.
To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.
The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind.
Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property... Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.
The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.
It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error.
Government is best which governs least
