Thomas Paine

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.

We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities.

The Vatican is a dagger in the heart of Italy.

My mind is my own church.

Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.

But such is the irresistable nature of truth, that all it asks, and all it wants is the liberty of appearing.

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.

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

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

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

Is it not a species of blasphemy to call the New Testament revealed religion, when we see in it such contradictions and absurdities.

When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

Human nature is not of itself vicious.

Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one's own efforts.

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.

It is the direction and not the magnitude which is to be taken into consideration.

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

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

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.

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