Quotes by Thomas Paine
1737 – 1809
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was a vigorous defender of and participant in both the American and French Revolutions. His most famous work is Common Sense (1776) which was an early call for the independence of the American colonies from Britain. His other well known work is The Rights of Man (1791) which was a reply to Burke’s critique of the French Revolution.
Bio
Paine featured as the February 2022 OLL Birthday. Read it here
Literature & Music
Thomas Paine’s patriotic song called “Hail Great Republic” which is to be sung to the tune of Rule Britannia
Origin of Government
Thomas Paine asks how it is that established governments came into being, his answer, is "banditti of ruffians" seized control and turned themselves into monarchs (1792)
Taxation
Thomas Paine responded to one of Burke’s critiques of the French Revolution by cynically arguing that wars are sometimes started in order to increase taxation (“the harvest of war”) (1791)
Money & Banking
Tom Paine on the "Decline and Fall of the English System of Finance" (1796)
Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots
Paine on the idea that the law is king (1776)
Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots
Thomas Paine on the absurdity of an hereditary monarchy (1791)
Revolution
Tom Paine on the “birthday of a new world” (1776)