Men did not make the earth... It is the value of the improvements only, and not the earth itself, that is individual property. ... Every proprietor owes to the community a ground rent for the land which he holds. Thomas Paine More Quotes by Thomas Paine More Quotes From Thomas Paine To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. Thomas Paine medicine4th-of-julyfunny A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody. Thomas Paine accountabilitytrustmen He who dares not offend cannot be honest. Thomas Paine honestpoliticaltruth The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. Thomas Paine wisdominspirationallife 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 mattercountrypeople It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance. Thomas Paine affrontmotivationserious It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error. Thomas Paine errorsdutymen 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. Thomas Paine knowingopportunitymen Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one. Thomas Paine 4th-of-julymotivationwar Our greatest enemies, the ones we must fight most often, are within. Thomas Paine fightingself-esteempeople [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. Thomas Paine churchusechristian 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 summerlovecountry A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right. Thomas Paine ignoranceintegritycharacter There are two distinct classes of men - those who pay taxes and those who receive and live upon taxes. Thomas Paine classmentwo Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. Thomas Paine motivationinspirationalcharacter Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. Thomas Paine motivationalinspirationallife The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark. Thomas Paine minddarkeducation If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. Thomas Paine veterans-daytimepeace 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 equalityfreedomchange The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. Thomas Paine motivationalinspirationallife
