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“I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life. I believe the equality of man, and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavouring to make our fellow creatures happy.”

Thomas Paine book The Age of Reason

1790s, The Age of Reason, Part I (1794)

“Every national church or religion has established itself by pretending some special mission from God, communicated to certain individuals. The Jews have their Moses; the Christians their Jesus Christ, their apostles and saints; and the Turks their Mahomet; as if the way to God was not open to every man alike. Each of those churches show certain books, which they call revelation, or the word of God. The Jews say, that their word of God was given by God to Moses, face to face; the Christians say, that their word of God came by divine inspiration: and the Turks say, that their word of God (the Koran) was brought by an angel from Heaven. Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all.”

Thomas Paine book The Age of Reason

1790s, The Age of Reason, Part I (1794)

“Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is none more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory in itself, than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid, or produces only atheists and fanatics.”

Thomas Paine book The Age of Reason

Source: 1790s, The Age of Reason, Part II (1795), Chapter III: Conclusion.

“The duty of man is not a wilderness of turnpike gates, through which he is to pass by tickets from one to the other. It is plain and simple, and consists but of two points. His duty to God, which every man must feel; and with respect to his neighbor, to do as he would be done by. If those to whom power is delegated do well, they will be respected: if not, they will be despised; and with regard to those to whom no power is delegated, but who assume it, the rational world can know nothing of them.”

Thomas Paine book Rights of Man

Part 1.3 Rights of Man
1790s, Rights of Man, Part I (1791)

“When it becomes necessary to do anything, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it.”

Thomas Paine book Rights of Man

Part 1.3 Rights of Man
1790s, Rights of Man, Part I (1791)

“It is by distortedly exalting some men, that others are distortedly debased, till the whole is out of nature.”

Thomas Paine book Rights of Man

Part 1.3 Rights of Man
1790s, Rights of Man, Part I (1791)

“Common sense will tell us, that
the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all others, the
most improper to defend us.”

Thomas Paine book Common Sense

Source: Common Sense

“The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason. I have never used any other, and I trust I never shall.”

Thomas Paine book The Age of Reason

1790s, The Age of Reason, Part I (1794)

“Reason obeys itself; and Ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.”

Thomas Paine book Rights of Man

Part 1.7 Conclusion
1790s, Rights of Man, Part I (1791)
Context: Reason and Ignorance, the opposites of each other, influence the great bulk of mankind. If either of these can be rendered sufficiently extensive in a country, the machinery of Government goes easily on. Reason obeys itself; and Ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.

“He who dares not offend cannot be honest.”

The Forester's Letters http://www.bartleby.com/184/117.html, Letter III—'To Cato', Pennsylvania Journal (24 April 1776) <br class="br">1770s

“My own mind is my own church.”

Thomas Paine book The Age of Reason

Source: The Age of Reason

“In the early ages of the world, according to the Scripture chronology there were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion.”

Thomas Paine book Common Sense

Source: 1770s, Common Sense (1776)

“Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise.”

Thomas Paine book Common Sense

Source: Common Sense

“… taxes are not raised to carry on wars, but that wars are raised to carry on taxes”

Thomas Paine book Rights of Man

Source: Rights of Man

“Give me liberty, or give me death.”

Thomas Paine book Common Sense

Source: Common Sense

“From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom”

Thomas Paine book Common Sense

Source: Common Sense

“Time makes more converts than reason.”

Thomas Paine book Common Sense

Source: Common Sense

“A body of men, holding themselves accountable to nobody, ought not to be trusted by any body.”

Thomas Paine book Rights of Man

Part 1.3 Rights of Man
1790s, Rights of Man, Part I (1791)

“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”

Thomas Paine book Common Sense

Source: 1770s, Common Sense (1776)

“Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness”

1770s, Common Sense (1776)
Context: Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil.