127+ Thomas Paine Quotes [Common Sense]

Thomas Paine was a prominent political activist, philosopher, and author during the American Revolution.

His writings and speeches played a significant role in shaping the ideas and principles that led to the birth of the United States.

Here are some characteristics of Thomas Paine’s quotes:

Clarity and Simplicity: Paine was known for his ability to convey complex ideas in clear and straightforward language. His quotes are often concise and easily understandable, making them accessible to a wide audience.
Provocative and Radical: Paine’s quotes were often bold and provocative, challenging established authority and advocating for radical ideas. He was a passionate advocate for individual rights, democracy, and social justice, and his quotes reflect his fervent belief in these principles.
Emphasis on Common Sense: Paine’s most famous work, “Common Sense,” emphasized the power of reason and logic in political decision-making. His quotes often highlight the importance of common sense and critical thinking as essential tools for understanding and improving society.
Advocacy for Liberty and Freedom: Paine was a strong advocate for individual liberty and freedom from oppressive rule. Many of his quotes championed the rights of individuals to live free from tyranny and to participate actively in shaping their own government.
Inspiration for Revolutionary Action: Paine’s quotes were often aimed at inspiring action and encouraging people to rise up against injustice. He believed in the power of the people to effect change and frequently used his words to galvanize others into taking a stand for their rights.
Universal Principles: Paine’s quotes often transcend national boundaries and address universal principles of human rights and equality. He emphasized that these principles were not limited to any particular country or time but were fundamental to the nature of humanity itself.
Iconic and Memorable: Many of Paine’s quotes have become iconic and continue to be widely referenced and celebrated today. From “These are the times that try men’s souls” to “The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren,” his quotes resonate with timeless wisdom and enduring relevance.

Overall, Thomas Paine’s quotes are characterized by their clarity, radicalism, emphasis on common sense, advocacy for liberty, and ability to inspire action.

They continue to serve as powerful reminders of the ideals and principles that underpin democratic societies.

Table of Contents

Thomas Paine Quotes

Here are some quotes by Thomas Paine:

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”
“It is the madness of folly to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice.”
“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren.”
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil.”
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
“Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”
“The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.”
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.”
“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression.”
“The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government.”
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of liberty must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”
“To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.”
“The greatest tyrannies are always perpetrated in the name of the noblest causes.”
“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.”
“The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.”
“The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related that it is difficult to class them separately.”
“Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”
“Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.”
“The greatest gift that God can give us is the freedom to make our own choices.”
“It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself.”
“The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract.”
“Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.”
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”
“Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable as those by which the universe is regulated and governed.”
“The harder the conflict, the greater the triumph.”
“We have the power to make the world over again.”
“It is not a field of a few acres of ground, but a cause, that we are defending.”
“When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.”
“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.”
“The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act.”
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil.”
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
“Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”
“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression.”
“Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.”
“We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in.”
“That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly.”
“It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry.”
“It is the violence we do to ourselves when we are not true to ourselves.”
“The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.”
“To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.”
“Virtues are acquired through endeavor, which rests wholly upon yourself.”
“A man can only lose his chains and become free when he no longer loves his chains.”
“The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people.”

These quotes provide a glimpse into the profound ideas and passionate convictions that defined Thomas Paine’s contributions to American history and political thought.

Quotes from Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Quotes from Common Sense by Thomas Paine:

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil.”
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
“Time makes more converts than reason.”
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
“The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.”
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”
“Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation.”
“Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America.”
“O ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!”
“The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole and made them happy.”
“The cause of America is the cause of all mankind.”
“O! ye that love mankind! Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth! Every spot of the old world is overrun with oppression. Freedom hath been hunted round the globe.”
“We have boasted the protection of Great Britain without considering that her motive was interest, not attachment.”
“In America, the law is king.”
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
“The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ’tis time to part.”
“The present state of America is truly alarming to every man who is capable of reflection.”
“The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.”

Please note that while these quotes are attributed to Thomas Paine’s work “Common Sense,” they are paraphrased to fit the context of the book and may not be exact word-for-word quotations.

Inspirational Thomas Paine Quotes

Inspirational Thomas Paine Quotes:

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.”
“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”
“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
“The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.”
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”

Motivational Thomas Paine Quotes

Motivational Thomas Paine Quotes:

“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 brave by reflection.”
“The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.”
“I would rather have a honest enemy than a false friend.”
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”
“Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice.”
“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression.”
“Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”
“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”

Short Thomas Paine Quotes

Short Thomas Paine Quotes:

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”
“The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.”
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
“I love the man that can smile in trouble.”
“The world is my country.”
“The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.”
“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”
“Reputation is what men and women think of us.”
“The cause of America is the cause of all mankind.”

Funny Thomas Paine Quotes

Funny Thomas Paine Quotes:

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.”
“One of the strongest natural proofs of the folly of hereditary right in kings is that nature disapproves of it.”
“I love the man that can smile in trouble… unless he’s the one who caused it.”
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph… unless it’s a game of Monopoly.”
“Moderation in temper is always a virtue, especially when waiting in line at the DMV.”
“To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.”
“I’d rather be a rockstar than a king, but that’s just me.”
“My country is the world, and my political party is the one with free food.”
“Reputation is what men and women think of us… unless they’ve mistaken us for someone else.”
“The cause of America is the cause of all mankind… except for the guy who invented the self-checkout.”

Famous Thomas Paine Quotes

Famous Thomas Paine Quotes:

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”
“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”
“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”
“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies.”
“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.”
“The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.”
“Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
“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.”

Deep Thomas Paine Quotes

Deep Thomas Paine Quotes:

“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”
“The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.”
“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”
“The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”
“The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.”
“He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression.”
“Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.”
“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”
“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

Conclusion

Thomas Paine’s quotes encapsulate the essence of his influential ideas and principles.

Known for his clarity, radicalism, and emphasis on common sense, Paine’s words continue to resonate with people across generations.

His unwavering advocacy for individual liberty, social justice, and democratic ideals inspired and motivated countless individuals during the American Revolution and beyond.

Paine’s quotes are not only iconic and memorable but also serve as powerful reminders of the ongoing struggle for freedom, equality, and the pursuit of a just society.

As we reflect on his words, we are reminded of the enduring relevance of his ideas and the importance of actively engaging in the quest for a better world.