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Thomas Paine quotes

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“Time makes more converts than reason.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in kings, is, that nature disapproves it, otherwise she would not so frequently turn it into ridicule by giving mankind an ass for a lion.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Where there are no distinctions there can be no superiority, perfect equality affords no temptation.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“And as a man, who is attached to a prostitute, is unfitted to choose or judge a wife, so any prepossession in favour of a rotten constitution of government will disable us from discerning a good one.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Is the power who is jealous of our prosperity, a proper power to govern us?” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“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” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Immediate necessity makes many things convenient, which if continued would grow into oppressions. Expedience and right are different things.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“The more men have to lose, the less willing are they to venture.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“That the king is not to be trusted without being looked after, or in other words, that a thirst for absolute power is the natural disease of monarchy.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all others the most improper to defend us.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“For monarchy in every instance is the Popery of government.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies; yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe. Asia, and Africa, have long expelled her—Europe...” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows, that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Small islands not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“I draw my idea of the form of government from a principle in nature, which no art can overturn, viz. that the more simple any thing is, the less liable it is to be disordered; and the easier repaired when disordered” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“It is pleasant to observe by what regular gradations we surmount the force of local prejudice, as we enlarge our acquaintance with the world.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Could the straggling thoughts of individuals be collected, they would frequently form materials for wise and able men to improve into useful matter.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a...” Thomas Paine, Common Sense
“No nation ought to be without a debt. A national debt is a national bond; and when it bears no interest, is in no case a grievance.” Thomas Paine, Common Sense

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government continent power oppression monarchy constitution wisdom force society nation time reason beginning freedom strength improvement equality knowledge necessity evil

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Common Sense (24)