The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.
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Quotes by Thomas Paine
Explore 31 verified and sourced quotes attributed to Thomas Paine. Open any quote for its dedicated page, source details and related topics.
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Selected quotes by Thomas Paine
Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
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.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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.
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.
I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.
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.
Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.
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.
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 greatest remedy for anger is delay.
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
These are the times that try men's souls.
When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.
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