Thomas Paine Biography and 50 of the best quotes

Thomas Paine Biography:

Thomas Paine 

Thomas Paine was an English-American political activist, philosopher, and writer who played a significant role in the American Revolution and the French Revolution. He was born on January 29, 1737, in Thetford, Norfolk, England, and died on June 8, 1809, in New York City, United States.

Paine was the son of a Quaker corset maker and grew up in a humble background. He received a basic education at Thetford Grammar School and worked as an apprentice to his father. In 1759, he married Mary Lambert, but the marriage was short-lived, and Mary died in 1760.

In 1774, Paine met Benjamin Franklin in London, who encouraged him to emigrate to America. Paine arrived in Philadelphia in November 1774 and soon became involved in the revolutionary movement. He wrote a pamphlet titled "Common Sense," which was published in January 1776 and became a best-seller. The pamphlet argued for American independence from Great Britain and was widely read and distributed throughout the colonies.

Paine's other notable works include "The American Crisis," a series of pamphlets written during the American Revolution, and "The Rights of Man," a defense of the French Revolution. He also wrote "The Age of Reason," a critique of organized religion and the Bible.

Despite his influential writings, Paine was not without controversy. He was a strong advocate for democracy and individual rights, which put him at odds with many of his contemporaries. He also criticized George Washington, which led to his falling out of favor with many Americans.

After the American Revolution, Paine returned to England, where he continued to write and advocate for political reform. He became involved in the French Revolution and was elected to the French National Convention in 1792. However, his support for the execution of King Louis XVI and his opposition to the Reign of Terror led to his imprisonment in 1793.

Paine was released from prison in 1794 and returned to the United States in 1802. He continued to write and advocate for political reform until his death in 1809. Paine's contributions to the American Revolution and his advocacy for democracy and individual rights have had a lasting impact on American and world history.

50 of the best quotes by Thomas Paine:

Thomas Paine 

1. "These are the times that try men's souls."

2. "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."

3. "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

4. "Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil."

5. "The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark."

6. "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us."

7. "It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies."

8. "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind."

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

10. "The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government."

11. "The world is made for the convenience of women."

12. "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

13. "The greatest remedy for anger is delay."

14. "The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related that it is difficult to class them separately."

15. "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself."

16. "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind."

17. "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

18. "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."

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

20. "The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government."

21. "The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark."

22. "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us."

23. "Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil."

24. "The world is made for the convenience of women."

25. "The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related that it is difficult to class them separately."

26. "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself."

27. "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

28. "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind."

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

30. "The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government."

31. "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."

32. "The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark."

33. "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us."

34. "Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil."

35. "The world is made for the convenience of women."

36. "The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related that it is difficult to class them separately."

37. "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself."

38. "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

39. "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind."

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

41. "The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government."

42. "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion."

43. "The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark."

44. "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us."

45. "Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil."

46. "The world is made for the convenience of women."

47. "The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related that it is difficult to class them separately."

48. "He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself."

49. "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."

50. "The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind."