#v

All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#christian #churches #enslave #human #human inventions

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#conflict #glorious #harder #more #triumph

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

#enemy #establishes #even #guard #himself

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

— Thomas Paine

#come #i #live #must #my time

Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#ignorance #itself #obeys #reason #submits

Character is much easier kept than recovered. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#easier #kept #much #recovered #than

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

— Thomas Paine

#being #gives #habit #long #right

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#blessing #even #every #evil #government

There are matters in the Bible, said to be done by the express commandment of God, that are shocking to humanity and to every idea we have of moral justice. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#commandment #done #every #express #god

To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not. ↗

— Thomas Paine

#choice #fit #freedom #had #loaded