110+ Thomas Paine Quotes On Tyranny, Freedom And Democracy

Thomas Paine was an English writer, revolutionary, and political theorist. He is best known for writing the pamphlet Common Sense, which helped to inspire the American Revolution. He was also the author of the Rights of Man and The Age of Reason, which were influential in the French Revolution. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Thomas Paine on tyranny, freedom, democracy.

Top 10 Thomas Paine Quotes

1. To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.
2. The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.
3. The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.
4. [A]ll churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, are simply human inventions. They use fear to enslave us. They are a monopoly for power and profit.
5. A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.
6. He who dares not offend cannot be honest.
7. If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
8. Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
9. Religion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel.
10. The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.

Thomas Paine Image Quotes

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. — Thomas Paine

Character is much easier kept than recovered. — Thomas Paine

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

These are the times that try men's souls. — Thomas Paine

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

The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Short Quotes

• Character is much easier kept than recovered.
• Our greatest enemies, the ones we must fight most often, are within.
• These are the times that try men's souls.
• One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.
• The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.
• Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
• When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.
• The slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.
• The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from government.
• When all other rights are taken away, the right of rebellion is made perfect.

Thomas Paine Quotes About Tyranny

The greatest tyrannies are always perpetuated in the name of the noblest causes. — Thomas Paine

Government is best which governs least — Thomas Paine

Of all the tyrannies that effect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst; every other species of tyranny is limited to the world we live in; but this attempts to stride beyond the grave, and seeks to pursue us into eternity. — Thomas Paine

He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third. — Thomas Paine

Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst. — Thomas Paine

Every age and generation must be as free to act for itself in all cases as the ages and generations which preceded it. The vanity and presumption of governing beyond the grave is the most ridiculous and insolent of all tyrannies. — Thomas Paine

The essential psychological requirement of a free society is the willingness on the part of the individual to accept responsibility for his life. - Edith Packer When the government fears the people, it is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny. — Thomas Paine

We ought therefore to suspect that a great mass of information respecting the Bible, and the introduction of it into the world, has been suppressed by the united tyranny of Church and State, for the purpose of keeping people in ignorance, and which ought to be known. — Thomas Paine

There is no greater tyranny than that of the dead over the living. — Thomas Paine

Ye that dare oppose, not only tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Freedom

I have always strenuously supported the right of every man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it. — Thomas Paine

From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms! Through the land let the sound of it flee; Let the far and the near all unite, with a cheer, In defense of our Liberty Tree. — Thomas Paine

We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in. — Thomas Paine

Those who expect to reap the blessing of freedom must undertake to support it. — Thomas Paine

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. — 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

Here then is the origin and rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world; here too is the design and end of government, viz. Freedom and security. — Thomas Paine

Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think. But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. — Thomas Paine

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must understand the fatigue of supporting it. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Truth

It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. — Thomas Paine

The mind, in discovering truths, acts in the same manner as it acts through the eye in discovering objects; when once any object has been seen, it is impossible to put the mind back to the same condition it was in before it saw it. — Thomas Paine

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. — Thomas Paine

The graceful pride of truth knows no extremes, and preserves, in every latitude of life, the right-angled character of man. — 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

Mystery is the antagonist of truth. It is a fog of human invention, that obscures truth, and represents it in distortion. — Thomas Paine

Practical religion consists in doing good: and the only way of serving God is that of endeavoring to make His creation happy. All preaching that has not this for its object is nonsense and hypocrisy. — Thomas Paine

Truth never envelops itself in mystery, and the mystery in which it is at any time enveloped is the work of its antagonist, and never of itself. — Thomas Paine

I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Monarchy

Universal empire is the prerogative of a writer. His concerns are with all mankind, and though he cannot command their obedience,he can assign them their duty. The Republic of Letters is more ancient than monarchy, and of far higher character in the world than the vassal court of Britain. — Thomas Paine

... a thirst for power is the natural disease of monarchy. — Thomas Paine

If, to expose the fraud and imposition of monarchy . . . to promote universal peace, civilization, and commerce, and to break the chains of political superstition, and raise degraded man to his proper rank; if these things be libellous . . . let the name of libeller be engraved on my tomb — Thomas Paine

What is called a republic, is not any particular form of government ... it is naturally opposed to the word monarchy, which means arbitrary power. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Education

A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support. — Thomas Paine

Every person of learning is finally his own teacher. — Thomas Paine

The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Reason

...It would be more consistent that we call [the Bible] the work of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind. — Thomas Paine

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

The Bible: a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalise mankind. — Thomas Paine

It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine, and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man. — Thomas Paine

The study of theology, as it stands in Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authorities; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion. — Thomas Paine

Time makes more converts than reason. — Thomas Paine

Reason and Ignorance, the opposites of each other, influence the great bulk of mankind. If either of these can be rendered sufficiently extensive in a country, the machinery of Government goes easily on. Reason obeys itself; and Ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. — Thomas Paine

I fear not, I see not reason for fear. In the end we will be the victors. For though at times the flame of liberty may cease to shine, the ember will never expire. — Thomas Paine

The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason. — Thomas Paine

...Thomas did not believe the resurrection [John 20:25], and, as they say, would not believe without having ocular and manual demonstration himself. So neither will I, and the reason is equally as good for me, and for every other person, as for Thomas. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About America

The American constitutions were to liberty, what a grammar is to language: they define its parts of speech, and practically construct them into syntax — Thomas Paine

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

I consider the war of America against Britain as the country's war, the public's war, or the war of the people in their own behalf, for the security of their natural rights, and the protection of their own property. — Thomas Paine

Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. — Thomas Paine

The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing. — Thomas Paine

Mingling religion with politics may be disavowed and reprobated by every inhabitant of America. — Thomas Paine

Let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarcy, that in America the law is King. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other. — Thomas Paine

But where, says some, is the King of America? I'll tell you. Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain. — Thomas Paine

The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind. — Thomas Paine

The United States of America will sound as pompously in the world or in history as The Kingdom of Great Britain. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Religion

What is it the Bible teaches us? - raping, cruelty, and murder. What is it the New Testament teaches us? - to believe that the Almighty committed debauchery with a woman engaged to be married, and the belief of this debauchery is called faith. — Thomas Paine

The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed. — Thomas Paine

My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. — Thomas Paine

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

It is the duty of every true Deist to vindicate the moral justice of God against the evils of the Bible. — Thomas Paine

I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of. My own mind is my own church. — Thomas Paine

What is it the Bible teaches us? -- rapine, cruelty, and murder. — Thomas Paine

One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we have seen what priestcraft and fanaticism can do, and credulity believe. — Thomas Paine

As to the book called the bible, it is blasphemy to call it the Word of God. It is a book of lies and contradictions and a history of bad times and bad men. — Thomas Paine

The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About World

We have it in our power to begin the world over again. — 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

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

Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it. — Thomas Paine

In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion. — Thomas Paine

To believe that God created a plurality of worlds, at least as numerous as what we call stars, renders the Christian faith at once little and ridiculous; and scatters it in the mind like feathers in the air. — Thomas Paine

All Of Us Might Wish At Times That We Lived In A More Tranquil World....(yet) Our Times Are Challenging And Filled With Opportunity. — Thomas Paine

The times that tried men's souls are over-and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever knew, gloriously and happily accomplished. — Thomas Paine

A world of little cares is continually arising, which busy or affluent life knows nothing of, to open the first door to distress. Hunger is not among the postponable wants; and a day, even a few hours, in such a condition is often the crisis of a life of ruin. — Thomas Paine

His [Jesus'] historians, having brought him into the world in a supernatural manner, were obliged to take him out again in the same manner, or the first part of the story must have fallen to the ground. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Principles

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death. — Thomas Paine

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

'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

A single legislature, on account of the superabundance of its power, and the uncontrolled rabidity of its execution, becomes as dangerous to the principles of liberty as that of a despotic monarch. — 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

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot. — Thomas Paine

The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and the advantages to result from them, are sufficiently seen and understood. — Thomas Paine

Those words, temperate and moderate, are words either of political cowardice, or of cunning, or seduction. 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 a species of vice. — Thomas Paine

...the true greatness of a nation is founded on principles of humanity. — Thomas Paine

I draw my idea of the form of government from a principle in nature, which no art can overturn, viz. that the more simple any thing is, the less liable it is to be disordered; and the easier repaired when disordered. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Quotes About Society

Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness. — Thomas Paine

Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. — 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

Suspicion is the companion of mean souls, and the bane of all good society. — Thomas Paine

Man did not enter society to be worse off, or to have fewer rights, but rather to have those rights better secured — Thomas Paine

Civilization, or that which is so called, has operated two ways to make one part of society more affluent and the other part more wretched than would have been the lot of either in a natural state. — 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

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

They may be all comprehended under three heads - 1st, Superstition; 2d, Power; 3d, the common interests of society, and the common rights of man. — Thomas Paine

A government on the principles on which constitutional governments arising out of society are established, cannot have the right of altering itself. If it had, it would be arbitrary. It might make itself what it pleased; and wherever such a right is set up, it shows there is no constitution. — Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine Famous Quotes And Sayings

No country can be called free which is governed by an absolute power; and it matters not whether it be an absolute royal power or an absolute legislative power, as the consequences will be the same to the people. — Thomas Paine

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. — Thomas Paine

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. — Thomas Paine

Rights are not gifts from one man to another, nor from one class of men to another. It is impossible to discover any origin of rights otherwise than in the origin of man; it consequently follows that rights appertain to man in right of his existence, and must therefore be equal to every man. — Thomas Paine

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

These are the times that try men's souls. — Thomas Paine

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. — Thomas Paine

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

There are two distinct classes of men - those who pay taxes and those who receive and live upon taxes. — Thomas Paine

The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance. — Thomas Paine

We still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry and grasping at the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretenses for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without a tribute. — Thomas Paine

Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortuous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we call it the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind. — Thomas Paine

Each government accuses the other of perfidy, intrigue and ambition, as a means of heating the imagination of their respective nations, and incensing them to hostilities. Man is not the enemy of man, but through the medium of a false system of government. — Thomas Paine

In a chariot of light from the region of the day, the Goddess of Liberty came. She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, the plant she named Liberty Tree. — Thomas Paine

The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside ... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become prey to the strong. — Thomas Paine

It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. Infidelity does not consist in believing, or in disbelieving, it consists in professing to believe what he does not believe. — Thomas Paine

The creation is the Bible of the Deist. He there reads, in the handwriting of the Creator himself, the certainty of His existence and the immutability of His power, and all other Bibles and Testaments are to him forgeries. — 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

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace. — Thomas Paine

The moral duty of man consists of imitating the moral goodness and beneficence of God, manifested in the creation towards all his creatures. Everything of persecution and revenge between man and man, and everything of cruelty to animals is a violation of moral duty — Thomas Paine

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow. — Thomas Paine

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man. — Thomas Paine

In reviewing the history of the English Government, its wars and its taxes, a bystander, not blinded by prejudice nor warped by interest, would declare that taxes were not raised to carry on wars, but that wars were raised to carry on taxes. — Thomas Paine

A constitution defines and limits the powers of the government it creates. It therefore follows, as a natural and also a logical result, that the governmental exercise of any power not authorized by the constitution is an assumed power, and therefore illegal. — Thomas Paine

If those to whom power is delegated do well, they will be respected; if not, they will be despised. — Thomas Paine

A Constitution is not the act of a Government, but of a people constituting a government, and a government without a constitution is a power without right. — Thomas Paine

When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon. — Thomas Paine

You cannot undermine police authority and then complain about rising crime. — Thomas Paine

If anything had or could have a value equal to gold and silver, it would require no tender law; and if it had not that value it ought not to have such a law; and, therefore, all tender laws are tyrannical and unjust and calculated to support fraud and oppression. — Thomas Paine

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. — Thomas Paine

It is not because a part of the government is elective, that makes it less a despotism, if the persons so elected, possess afterwards, as a parliament, unlimited powers. Election, in this case, becomes separated from representation, and the candidates are candidates for despotism. — Thomas Paine

It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies. — Thomas Paine

Arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe and preserve order. — Thomas Paine

From such beginnings of governments, what could be expected, but a continual system of war and extortion? — Thomas Paine

To establish any mode to abolish war, however advantageous it might be to Nations, would be to take from such Government the most lucrative of its branches. — Thomas Paine

The balance of power is the scale of peace. — Thomas Paine

Civil rights are those which appertain to man in right of his being a member of society. Every civil right has for its foundation some natural right pre-existing in the individual, but to the enjoyment of which his individual power is not, in all cases, sufficiently competent. Of this kind are all those which relate to security and protection. — 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

That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. — Thomas Paine

Reputation is what men and women think of us. Character is what God and the angels know of us. — Thomas Paine

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

That God cannot lie, is no advantage to your argument, because it is no proof that priests can not, or that the Bible does not. — Thomas Paine

Christianity is the strangest religion ever set up, for it committed a murder upon Jesus in order to redeem mankind from the sin of eating an apple. — Thomas Paine

Mutual fear is a principal link in the chain of mutual love. — Thomas Paine

How necessary it is at all times to watch against the attempted encroachment of power, and to prevent its running to excess. — Thomas Paine

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

It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes. — Thomas Paine

I have never made it a consideration whether the subject was popular or unpopular, but whether it was right or wrong; for that which is right will become popular, and that which is wrong, though by mistake it may obtain the cry or fashion of the day, will soon lose the power of delusion, and sink into disesteem. — Thomas Paine

The cunning of the fox is as murderous as the violence of the wolf. — Thomas Paine

The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy. — Thomas Paine

Life Lessons by Thomas Paine

1. Thomas Paine taught that everyone should think for themselves and question authority, as well as stand up for their beliefs and fight for justice.
2. He also believed that knowledge should be shared and that everyone should have access to education and the right to pursue their own happiness.
3. Finally, he encouraged people to work together to create a better future and to never give up in the face of adversity.