Tag Archives: Thomas Paine

First Principles: It Is the Madness of Folly, To Expect Mercy From Those Who Have Refused To Do Justice

“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: Society In Every State Is A Blessing, But, Government, Even In the 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.” – Thomas Paine

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First Principles: Those Who Expect To Reap the Blessings of Freedom, Must, Like Men, Undergo the Fatigues of Supporting It

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” – Thomas Paine (1777)

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First Principles: When We Are Planning For Posterity, We Ought To Remember That Virtue Is Not Hereditary

“When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.” – Thomas Paine (1776)

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First Principles: 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

“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: A Constitution Is Not the Act of A Government, But of A People Constituting A Government, and A Government Without A Constitution Is A Power Without Right

“A Constitution is not the act of a Government, but of a people constituting a government, and a government without a constitution is a power without right.” – Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1791

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First Principles: It Is the Madness of Folly, To Expect Mercy From Those Who Have Refused To Do Justice

“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: Tyranny, Like Hell, Is Not Easily Conquered, Yet We Have This Consolation With Us, That the Harder the Conflict, the More Glorious the Triumph

“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine in “American Crisis” (1776)

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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: When We Are Planning For Posterity, We Ought To Remember That Virtue Is Not Hereditary

“When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.” – Thomas Paine (1776)

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