Thomas Paine

Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.

Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.

Character • Morality • Perception

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

Discipline • Habits • Improvement

The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.

The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.

Enlightenment • Ignorance • Knowledge

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.

Philosophy • Skepticism

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

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

Altruism • Human • Philosophy

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.

Beliefs • God • Morality

War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end; it has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes.

War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end; it has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes.

Human • Taxes • War

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

Freedom • Patriotism • Responsibility

The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.

The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.

Fear • Politics • Power

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.

Adversity • Courage • Improvement

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Achievements • Motivational • Perseverance

Time makes more converts than reason.

Time makes more converts than reason.

Change • Influence • Reason

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

Children • Life • Peace

Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.

Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.

Beliefs • Children • Morality

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.

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.

Beliefs • Happiness • Honesty

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.

Government • Leadership • Politics

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

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

Human • Religion • Tyranny

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

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

Change • Empowerment • Hope

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

Leadership • Motivational • Philosophy