Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Thomas Paine (American Nationalist)

Thomas Paine (1737–1809) was an English-born political writer and Revolutionary propagandist. His writings convinced many American colonists of the need for independence. He remains an idol to revolutionaries, liberals, socialists, atheists, and freethinkers due to his various writings.

Born in Thetford, England, Paine was a self-educated man. He failed at or was unhappy in every job he tried for the first 24 years of his adult life. After meeting Benjamin Franklin in London and establishing contacts, Paine moved to America and began writing for the Pennsylvania Magazine, of which he became the editor for six months. His contributions included an attack on the institution of slavery.

Paine’s literary eloquence received recognition with the appearance of his 79-page pamphlet titled Common Sense (1776.) With it’s striking diplomatic, commercial, and political arguments in favor of separation from Britain, Paine’s powerful appeal for immediate independence laid the ground for the American Declaration of Independence. Common Sense was an instant success. Newspapers in other colonies reprinted all or part of it. George Washington acknowledged it for mobilizing a “powerful change” in the colonies’ sentiment toward Britain.

After working for the American cause during the remainder of the Revolution, Paine returned to England in 1787. He published The Rights of Man (1791,) in which he vigorously defended republican principles and called Englishmen to arms to overthrow their monarchy. His radical views prompted the British government to indict him for treason. He fled to France and supported the French Revolution.

During a year of imprisonment in France, Paine wrote The Age of Reason (1794,) an attack on orthodox Christianity. It was viewed as a direct attack on the irrationality of revealed religion and defense of deism. The book evoked many angry responses—it was denounced as atheistic and suppressed in England. The Age of Reason is now recognized as one of the most lucid expositions of the rationalist theism of the Enlightenment.

Paine returned to America in 1802 and lived a quiet life until he died in obscurity. Despite the significant contributions made during his lifetime, he was marginalized due to his religious skepticism. He had also already irritated the British (with Common Sense and The Rights of Man,) was not in good terms with the French (because of his opposition the execution of King Louis XVI,) and the Americans (due to his criticism of George Washington.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Thomas Paine

The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related that it is difficult to class them separately. One step above the sublime makes the ridiculous, and one step above the ridiculous makes the sublime again.
—Thomas Paine

The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case.
—Thomas Paine

As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of all government, to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith.
—Thomas Paine

Though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine, the coal can never expire
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Liberty

Our citizenship in the United States is our national character. Our citizenship in any particular state is only our local distinction. By the latter we are known at home, by the former to the world. Our great title is AMERICANS—our inferior one varies with the place.
—Thomas Paine

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; ‘Tis dearness only that gives everything its value.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Obstacles

The final event to himself has been, that as he rose like a rocket, he fell like the stick.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Glory

Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Reason

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
Topics: Reason

He is not affected by the reality of distress touching his heart, but by the showy resemblance of it striking his imagination. He pities the plumage, but forgets the dying bird.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Emotions

Nothing but heaven is impregnable to vice.
—Thomas Paine

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of—for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Reputation

Character is much easier kept than recovered.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Character, Integrity

We have it in our power to begin the world over again.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Beginnings

Compassion, the fairest associate of the heart.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Compassion

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 their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. 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.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Adversity, Patriotism

The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Religion

For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have a right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others for ever.
—Thomas Paine

Political Liberty consists in the power of doing whatever does not injure another. The exercise of the natural rights of every [human], has no other limits than those which are necessary to secure to every other [human] the free exercise of the same rights.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Wildlife

How impious is the title of “sacred majesty” applied to a worm, who, in the midst of his splendor, is crumbling into dust!
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Titles

Independence is my happiness, and I view things as they are, without regard to place or person; my country is the world, and my religion is to do good.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Independence, Goodness, Integrity, Good Deeds, Deeds

It can only be by blinding the understanding of man, and making him believe that government is some wonderful mysterious thing, that excessive revenues are obtained. Monarchy is well calculated to ensure this end. It is the popery of government; a thing kept up to amuse the ignorant, and quiet them into taxes.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Taxation

A bad cause will never be supported by bad means and bad men.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Reason

Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that every lived.
—Thomas Paine

He who 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
Topics: Freedom, Liberty

The true greatness of a nation is founded on principles of humanity.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Humanity

When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Thinking, Thought, Liberty, Thoughts

The reformation was preceded by the discovery of America, as if the Almighty graciously meant to open a sanctuary to the persecuted in future years, when home should afford neither friendship nor safety.
—Thomas Paine

Public money ought to be touched with the most scrupulous conscientiousness of honor. It is not the produce of riches only, but of the hard earnings of labor and poverty. It is drawn even from the bitterness of want and misery. Not a beggar passes, or perishes in the streets, whose mite is not in that mass.
—Thomas Paine
Topics: Money

When my country, into which I had just set my foot, was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir. It was time for every man to stir.
—Thomas Paine

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