Thomas Paine Quotes That May Cause You to Question Your Philosophy
June 3, 2021 6:00 AM EST
These Thomas Paine quotes highlight his thoughts on peace and war, intelligence, virtues, and much more.
Thomas Paine is most famous for writing “Common Sense”, which would help fuel the American Revolution.
Many of his writings made their way into the Declaration of Independence.
Common Sense was written as a way to rally the colonists into seeking independence and not just tax relief.
The “call to action” pamphlet was written clearly and used persuasive language as a way to mobilize the American man into action.
Paine believed that the colonies needed to find a way to leave the rule of England and that creating a democratic republic was in the nations best interest.
Below is our collection of inspirational, wise, and thought-provoking Thomas Paine quotes and sayings, collected from a variety of sources over the years.
We also have a collection of famous Alexander the Great quotes that will inspire you to do the impossible.
Also, check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily wisdom.
See the rest of our quote database for even more inspirational ideas and thoughts.
Thomas Paine quotes about peace and trouble
1. “I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about peace and trouble](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-1.jpg)
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2. “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-2.jpg)
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3. “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
![Thomas Paine quotes that gather strength from distress](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-3.jpg)
4. “Those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about those who want to reap the benefits of this great nation must bear the fatigue of supporting it](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-4.jpg)
5. “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
![Thomas Paine quotes about law adiding deprived of the use of them](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-5.jpg)
6. “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
![Thomas Paine quotes aboiut happiness](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-6.jpg)
7. “But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about irresistible nature of truth](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-7.jpg)
8. “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
![Thomas Paine quotes about the consequences](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-8.jpg)
9. “These are the times that try men’s souls.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about these are the time that try men's souls](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-9.jpg)
10. “The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about the real man smiles in trouble](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-10.jpg)
11. “He who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about author of a war](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-11.jpg)
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Thomas Paine quotes about government and religion
12. “Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about government](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-12.jpg)
13. “The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about religious complexion](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-13.jpg)
14. “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.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about making own liberty](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-14.jpg)
15. “I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about the equality of man](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-15.jpg)
16. “Persecution is not an original feature in any religion, but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about persecution is not an original feature in any religion](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-16.jpg)
17. “The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about the vatican is a dagger in the heart of italy](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-17.jpg)
18. “The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about the world is my country and mankind](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-18.jpg)
19. “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
![Thomas Paine quotes about society](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-19.jpg)
20. “Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes on belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-20.jpg)
21. “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
![Thomas Paine quotes about to establish any mode to abolish war](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-21.jpg)
22. “Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes that affect mankind](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-22.jpg)
23. “It is not a God, just and good, but a devil, under the name of God, that the Bible describes.” ― Thomas Paine
![Thomas Paine quotes about Bible](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-23.jpg)
24. “Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.” ― Thomas Paine
![Religion Thomas Paine quotes](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-24.jpg)
25. “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
![Thomas Paine quotes that God cannot lie](https://everydaypower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/thomas-paine-quotes-25.jpg)
26. “Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.” ― Thomas Paine
27. “There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice.” ― Thomas Paine
28. “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
Thomas Paine quotes about knowledge, principles, and ignorance
29. “Reason obeys itself, and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.” ― Thomas Paine
30. “The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.” ― Thomas Paine
31. “One good schoolmaster is of more use than a hundred priests.” ― Thomas Paine
32. “Time makes more converts than reason.” ― Thomas Paine
33. “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
34. “It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.” ― Thomas Paine
35. “When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.” ― Thomas Paine
36. “My mind is my own church.” ― Thomas Paine
37. “‘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
38. “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
39. “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
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Thomas Paine quotes about rightness, virtues, and value
40. “What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.” ― Thomas Paine
41. “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” ― Thomas Paine
42. “When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.” ― Thomas Paine
43. “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
44. “Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice.” ― Thomas Paine
45. “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 up on your shoulders, your feet are left bare; if you thrust it down to your feet, your shoulders are uncovered.” ― Thomas Paine
46. “Human nature is not of itself vicious.” ― Thomas Paine
47. “It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance.” ― Thomas Paine
48. “It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.” ― Thomas Paine
49. “Suspicion is the companion of mean souls and the bane of all good society.” ― Thomas Paine
50. “He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defense of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to Defender of the Faith, than George the Third.” ― Thomas Paine
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More Thomas Paine quotes and sayings
51. “From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom.” – Thomas Paine
52. “It is important that we should never lose sight of this distinction. We must not confuse the peoples with their governments…” – Thomas Paine
53. “I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense.” – Thomas Paine
54. “The more men have to lose, the less willing are they to venture.” – Thomas Paine
55. “The most effective process is that of improving the condition of man by means of his interest.” – Thomas Paine
56. “A government which cannot preserve the peace, is no government at all.” – Thomas Paine
57. “It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.” – Thomas Paine
58. “Whatever the form or constitution of government may be, it ought to have no other object than general happiness.” – Thomas Paine
59. “Teach governments humanity. It is their sanguinary punishments that corrupt mankind.” – Thomas Paine
60. “There never yet was any truth or principle so irresistibly obvious, that all men believed it at once.” – Thomas Paine
What did you learn from these Thomas Paine quotes?
It’s clear that the founding fathers of our country found inspiration in the works of Thomas Paine.
I wonder what our country would like today, had he not shared his views with the masses and encouraged a form of enlightened thinking.
When asked if he had wanted to change his thoughts on religion before dying he said: “I have no wish to believe on that subject,” right before taking his last breath.
It was so important to him that people did not make false accounts of any death bed confessions that he refused to be alone.
What do you think he would think of America and England today?
Do you have an inspiring Thomas Paine quote that you would like to add to the mix?
You can drop it in the comment section below.
Roger Vipond
October 12, 2020 at 3:00 PM
As an archetypal Brit, I am instinctively wary of any and all “self-help” mantras, but …
They can all be discarded if you simply absorb Thomas Paine’s insights, as you have very helpfully displayed them here.
Thank you. Roger.