Thomas Paine

Thomas Edison stated:
"I have always regarded Paine as one of the greatest of all Americans. Never have we had a sounder intelligence in this republic."


Thomas Paine-

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and row 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.

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.

The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.

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; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

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

Christopher Hitchens wrote, "The noblest verdict on Paine is that he wanted the French Revolution to be more temperate and humane, and the American Revolution (by abolishing slavery and being decent to the Indians) to be more thoroughgoing and profound." Thomas Paine, in a letter to George Washington wrote, “A share in two revolutions is living to some purpose." Paine had a hand in both revolutions and he thought the American revolution did not go far enough in its fight against slavery. To his critics he stated, "Let them call me rebel." Thomas Paine is certainly the father of secular progressives not only in America but in much of the world.

A human has no property in another human.

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.

Thomas Paine died in New York in 1809. The body of Thomas Paine does not rest in America, England or France. It was lost at sea and it seems just as well for a person such as Paine.

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