“There are, in every country, some magnificent charities established by individuals. It is, however, but little that any individual can do, when the whole extent of the misery to be relieved is considered. He may satisfy his conscience, but not his heart. He may give all that he has, and that all will relieve but little. It is only by organizing civilization upon such principles as to act like a system of pulleys, that the whole weight of misery can be removed.” ~ Thomas Paine

#ThomasPaine

Plaque. Lewes. May 2013.

#Sussex #ThomasPaine

@eldubuu @jukkan @pluralistic

4/

Source:

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/oligarchs-against-democracy

#history #USA #Europe #political #Best_of #conservative #liberal #debate #Burke #ThomasPaine #England

“We have it in our power to begin the world over again.” – Thomas Paine

#philosophy #quotes #DailyAffirmation #ThomasPaine

https://www.ushistory.org/Paine/rights/c1-016.htm

The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine

....

Fourthly. Because a body of men, holding themselves accountable to nobody, ought not to be trusted by anybody.

....

#ThomasPaine #Paine #State #Politics #Law #Constitution #HumanRights

This reminds me of one reason why podcasts have taken off in our time and radio is still thriving despite digital convergence...

"Many people couldn't read at [Thomas Paine's] time and it was quite common for newspapers to be read out, and pamphlets to be read out, in public places."

#PaulMyles, 2021

https://www.buzzsprout.com/451003/8760761-the-forgotten-revolutionary

#podcasts #PoliticalCompass #ThomasPaine

“The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”
― Thomas Paine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine

#Bot #Quote #FamousQuotes #ThomasPaine

“For all men being originally equals, no one by birth could have the right to set up his own family in perpetual preference to all others forever, and tho' himself might deserve some decent degree of honours of his cotemporaries, yet his descendants might be far too unworthy to inherit them.” #thomaspaine
#Coronation #KingCharles

I linked to the whole chapter from “Common Sense” above. #ThomasPaine lays out an argument against both the institution of #monarchy and inherited power, the ambiguous role of a monarch in a near-republic (echoes of which can be heard in today’s news), the tormented and absurd historical claims to divinity and legitimacy, and more. It remains mostly pertinent 247 years after publication.

#books #CommonSense

“Of more worth is one honest man to society, and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.”

https://www.ushistory.org/paine/commonsense/sense3.htm

#Coronation #ThomasPaine #monarchy

Society in every state is a blessing, but #Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one
#ThomasPaine

@mpiedrav

❝All accumulation of personal property, beyond what a man's own hands produce, is derived to him by living in society; and he owes on every principle of justice, of gratitude, and of civilization, a part of that accumulation back again to society from whence the whole came.❞

— #ThomasPaine • #AgrarianJustice

“It is folly to argue against determined hardness; eloquence may strike the ear, and the language of sorrow draw forth the tear of compassion, but nothing can reach the heart that is steeled with prejudice.”
~ Thomas Paine, “The American Crisis”

#ThomasPaine #prejudice

Spotted at the Huntington! Some #ThomasPaine in the reading room⬇️ #ITPS #histodons

#atheism #religion #belief #skeptic #thomaspaine

> THESE are the times that try men's souls. ...
> 'Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. ...

-- in #AmericanCrisis by #ThomasPaine

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/thomas-paine/the-american-crisis

> Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one: for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries BY A GOVERNMENT, which we might expect in a country WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer.

-- in #CommonSense by #ThomasPaine

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/147

Disclaimer: I do not discuss politics. IMO it's a waiste of time.

> THESE are the times that try men's souls. ...
> 'Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. ...

-- in #AmericanCrisis by #ThomasPaine

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/thomas-paine/the-american-crisis

> Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one: for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries BY A GOVERNMENT, which we might expect in a country WITHOUT GOVERNMENT, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer.

-- in #CommonSense by #ThomasPaine

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/147

Disclaimer: I do not discuss politics. IMO it's a waist of time.

Thomas Paine got a shout out as the one good founding father on a podcast I was listening to.

He was legit in favor of the most freedom he could imagine, that's why they fucked him over about his lack of theism.

#thomaspaine