Thomas Paine

"A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice. "

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

"Better fare hard with good men than feast it with bad. "

"Character is much easier kept than recovered. "

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil in its worst state, an intolerable one. "

"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. "

"Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. "

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. "

"The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. "

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

"What we obtain too cheap we esteem too little it is dearness only that gives everything its value. "

"When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary. "