Thomas Paine

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it."

"Genius is not a thing that can be learned by all."

"The secret of freedom lies in education."

"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be."

"I believe in the equality of man."

"Positive, practical talk is the thing."

"The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason."

"The right to bear arms is a natural right."

"To argue with a man who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead."

"I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of."

"The instant formal government is gone, society begins to act."

"Reputation being now unnecessary, we may always in theory do without it."

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government is but a necessary evil."

"Character is much easier kept than recovered."

"It is the object only of writers on the arbitrary side of the question to hold up the King."

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

"Nothing is more important to the public weal, than to form and train up youth in wisdom and virtue."

"The age of ignorance and superstition has lasted long enough."

"Make the best of what is in your power."

"It is the political religion of nations to do justice to each other."

"The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance."

"Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man."

"Be just and good; by these you will always be happy."

"My mind is my own church."

"Where knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime."

"The greatest remedy for anger is delay."

"It is impossible to count the hoar-frosts which spring from corruption."

"I have always strived to go not above nor below the truth."

"A man without religion is a terror to himself."

"Bad men cannot make good citizens."