More Quotes by Thomas Paine
When all other rights are taken away, the right of rebellion is made perfect.
Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent; selected from the rest of mankind their minds are early poisoned by importance; and the world they act in differs so materially from the world at large, that they have but little opportunity of knowing its true interests, and when they succeed to the government are frequently the most ignorant and unfit of any throughout the dominions.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.
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.
Government is best which governs least
There are two distinct classes of men - those who pay taxes and those who receive and live upon taxes.
Ye that dare oppose, not only tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!
It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.
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.
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.