Politics Quotes by Thomas Paine

Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence.

— Thomas Paine

To take away (voting) is to reduce a man to slavery.

— Thomas Paine

A government of our own is our natural right

— Thomas Paine

Government is a necessary evil

— Thomas Paine

Government is best which governs least

— Thomas Paine

The guilt of a government is the crime of a whole country.

— Thomas Paine

It is unpleasant to see character throw itself away.

— Thomas Paine

War is the gambling table of governments, and citizens the dupes of the game.

— Thomas Paine

All men can understand what representation is; and that it must necessarily include a variety of knowledge and talents.

— Thomas Paine

It is painful to behold a man employing his talents to corrupt himself.

— Thomas Paine

Wisdom degenerates in governments as governments increase in age.

— Thomas Paine

“Man is not the enemy of man, but through the medium of a false system of Government.”

— Thomas Paine

To possess ourselves of a clear idea of what government is, or ought to be, we must trace it to its origin.

— Thomas Paine

Governments arise either out of the people or over the people.

— Thomas Paine

A little matter will move a party, but it must be something great that moves a nation.

— Thomas Paine

There is existing in man, a mass of sense lying in a dormant state. The construction of government ought to be such…

— Thomas Paine

It will be proper to take a review of the several sources from which governments have arisen, and on which they have…

— Thomas Paine

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst…

— Thomas Paine

The instant formal government is abolished, society begins to act. A general association takes place, and common interest produces common security.

— Thomas Paine

Here then is the origin and rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern…

— Thomas Paine

I draw my idea of the form of government from a principle in nature, which no art can overturn, viz. that the…

— Thomas Paine

It is important that we should never lose sight of this distinction. We must not confuse the peoples with their governments...

— Thomas Paine

The idea of hereditary legislators is as inconsistent as that of hereditary judges, or hereditary juries; and as absurd as an hereditary…

— Thomas Paine

It can only be by blinding the understanding of man, and making him believe that government is some wonderful mysterious thing, that…

— Thomas Paine

A constitution, therefore, is to a government what the laws made afterwards by that government are to a court of judicature. The…

— Thomas Paine

“in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state…

— Thomas Paine

“for in proportion as the enemy despair of conquest, they will be trying the arts of seduction and the force of fear…

— Thomas Paine

Government ought to be as much open to improvement as anything which appertains to man, instead of which it has been monopolized…

— Thomas Paine

Great part of that order which reigns among mankind is not the effect of government. It has its origin in the principles…

— Thomas Paine

Let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarcy, that in…

— Thomas Paine

“Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happinesspositively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively…

— Thomas Paine

“When men are spoken of as kings and subjects, or when Government is mentioned under the distinct and combined heads of monarchy,…

— Thomas Paine

“I remember the late Admiral Saunders declaring in the House of Commons, and that in the time of peace, 'That the city…

— Thomas Paine

“There are matters in that book, said to be done by the express command of God, that are as shocking to humanity,…

— Thomas Paine

“I. Men are born, and always continue, free and equal in respect of their rights. Civil distinctions, therefore, can be founded only…

— Thomas Paine

“Were government a mere manufacture or article of commerce, immaterial by whom it should be made or sold, we might as well…

— Thomas Paine

“To understand the nature and quantity of government proper for man, it is necessary to attend to his character. As Nature created…

— Thomas Paine

“Whatever is the cause of taxes to a Nation, becomes also the means of revenue to Government. Every war terminates with an…

— Thomas Paine

“Nothing can appear more contradictory than the principles on which the old governments began, and the condition to which society, civilisation and…

— Thomas Paine

Lay then the axe to the root, and teach governments humanity. It is their sanguinary punishments which corrupt mankind.

— Thomas Paine