Tag Archives: Thomas Paine

First Principles: He That Would Have His Own Liberty Secure, Must Guard Even His Enemy From Oppression; For If He Violates This Duty, He Establishes A Precedent

“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine (1791)

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First Principles: As We Are Running the Next Generation Into Debt, We Ought To Do the Work of It, Otherwise We Use Them Meanly

“As parents, we can have no joy, knowing that this government is not sufficiently lasting to ensure any thing which we may bequeath to posterity: And by a plain method of argument, as we are running the next generation into … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Cause of America Is In A Great Measure the Cause of All Mankind

“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.” – Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776)

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First Principles: Society In Every State Is A Blessing, But Government, Even In Its Best State, Is But A Necessary Evil

“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; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, … Continue reading

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First Principles: It Is the Madness of Folly, To Expect Mercy From Those Who Have Refused To Do Justice; and Even Mercy, Where Conquest Is the Object

“It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Cunning of the Fox Is As Murderous As the Violence of the Wolf

“It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Cause of America Is In A Great Measure the Cause of All Mankind

“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.” – Thomas Paine (1776)

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First Principles: A Little Matter Will Move A Party, But It Must Be Something Great That Moves A Nation

“A little matter will move a party, but it must be something great that moves a nation.” – Thomas Paine (1792)

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First Principles: ‘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

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, … Continue reading

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First Principles: 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

“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; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, … Continue reading

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