Thomas Paine Quotes

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Thomas Paine

Profession : Activist

Birth : January 29, 1737

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

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

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

Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.

Thomas Paine

It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance.

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

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.

Thomas Paine

My mind is my own church.

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

Human nature is not of itself vicious.

Thomas Paine

There are two distinct classes of what are called thoughts: those that we produce in ourselves by reflection and the act of thinking and those that bolt into the mind of their own accord.

Thomas Paine

When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

Thomas Paine

One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.

Thomas Paine

We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities.

Thomas Paine

It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.

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