Accounts Quote by Thomas Paine
“Revelation is necessarily limited to the first communication- after that it is only an account of something which that person says was a revelation made to him; and though he may find himself obliged to believe it, it can not be incumbent on me to believe it in the same manner; for it was not a revelation made to ME, and I have only his word for it that it was made to him.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine, 1794
A revelation is personal; one cannot be forced to accept another's experience as truth.
In simple terms: Revelations are subjective.
Key Takeaway
Respect others' personal insights.
Themes
faith
subjectivity
belief
Mood
inquisitive
neutral
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- religious experience
- personal testimony
Key Concepts
philosophy
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate personal revelations?
- When is it appropriate to share them?
A Different Perspective
Assuming others' revelations as universal can cause conflict.
![“When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted the chastity of his mind, as to [profess] things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every other crime.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a2/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_when-a-man-has-so-far-corrupted-and-pros_852248.jpg)
![“...Thomas did not believe the resurrection [John 20:25], and, as they say, would not believe without having ocular and manual demonstration himself. So neither will I, and the reason is equally as good for me, and for every other person, as for Thomas.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8f1/thomas-paine-267_age-of-reason_thomas-did-not-believe-the-resurrection_650433.jpg)
