A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Thomas PaineRead
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Value is derived from the effort and cost associated with obtaining something.
Thomas Paine's quote emphasizes that things gained easily or at little cost are often undervalued, while true worth comes from what we labor for. It challenges us to appreciate the things in life that require effort, investment, and sacrifice, as these are what ultimately define their significance and value in our lives.
Themes
ValueEffortWorthCostAppreciation
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the rewards of hard work.
More from Thomas Paine
All quotes βThat God cannot lie, is no advantage to your argument, because it is no proof that priests can not, or that the Bible does not.
Thomas PaineRead
I consider the war of America against Britain as the country's war, the public's war, or the war of the people in their own behalf, for the security of their natural rights, and the protection of their own property.
Thomas PaineRead
Had the news of salvation by Jesus Christ been inscribed on the face of the sun and the moon, in characters that all nations would have understood, the whole earth had known it in twenty-four hours, and all nations would have believed it; whereas, though it is now almost two thousand years since, as they tell us, Christ came upon earth, not a twentieth part of the people of the earth know anything of it, and among those who do, the wiser part do not believe it.
Thomas PaineRead
The end of all political associations is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man; and these rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance of oppression.
Thomas PaineRead
To reason with goverments, as they have existed for ages, is to argue with brutes. It is only from the nations themselves that reforms can be expected
Thomas PaineRead
Similar quotes
Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment - that which they cannot anticipate.
Sun TzuRead
The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
ConfuciusRead
Say just what you mean to do on every occasion, and take it for granted you mean to do right.
Robert E. LeeRead
I'm not out to preach. I just live my own life. I'm very happy if I can help somebody - that's wonderful. But it's up to them what they want to think about it or what they want to take away; it's their business, not mine.
Iris ApfelRead
As solid rock remains unmoved by the wind, so the wise remain unmoved by blame and praise.
Gautama BuddhaRead
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative.
Winston ChurchillRead