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The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.

Thomas Paine
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There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice.
Thomas Paine
Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
Thomas Paine
Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles; he can only discover them.
Thomas Paine
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
Thomas Paine
Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society.
Thomas Paine
Time makes more converts than reason.
Thomas Paine
It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.
Thomas Paine
The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.
Thomas Paine
But such is the irresistable nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.
Thomas Paine
My mind is my own church.
Thomas Paine
Every religion is good that teaches man to be good; and I know of none that instructs him to be bad.
Thomas Paine
I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.
Thomas Paine
The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.
Thomas Paine
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.
Thomas Paine
The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.
Thomas Paine
Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.
Thomas Paine
My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
Thomas Paine
Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.
Thomas Paine
Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one's own efforts.
Thomas Paine
Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.
Thomas Paine
One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.
Thomas Paine
The abilities of man must fall short on one side or the other, like too scanty a blanket when you are abed. If you pull it upon your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.
Thomas Paine
These are the times that try men's souls.
Thomas Paine
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
Thomas Paine
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
Thomas Paine
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Thomas Paine
War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end; it has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes.
Thomas Paine
Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.
Thomas Paine
Human nature is not of itself vicious.
Thomas Paine
We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities.
Thomas Paine
He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death.
Thomas Paine
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
Thomas Paine
Titles are but nicknames, and every nickname is a title.
Thomas Paine
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.
Thomas Paine
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
Thomas Paine
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
Thomas Paine
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.
Thomas Paine
Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.
Thomas Paine
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.
Thomas Paine
An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.
Thomas Paine
The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy.
Thomas Paine
The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
Thomas Paine
If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.
Thomas Paine
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.
Thomas Paine
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
Thomas Paine
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
That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.
Thomas Paine
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
Thomas Paine