A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Thomas PaineRead
In the following pages I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense; and have no other preliminaries to settle with the reader, than that he will divest himself of prejudice and repossession, and suffer his reason and feelings to determine for themselves; and that he will put on, or rather that he will not put off, the true character of man, and generously enlarge his view beyond the present day.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of reasoning without prejudice and embracing a broader perspective on humanity.
In this quote, Thomas Paine advocates for an approach to understanding the world that is grounded in reason, devoid of biases, and encourages an expansive view of human nature and society. He invites readers to set aside preconceptions and allow their rational and emotional faculties to guide their understanding, suggesting that true wisdom comes from a generous consideration of the human experience beyond immediate concerns.
Themes
ReasonPrejudiceHumanityPerspectiveWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on social issues, one might quote Paine to advocate for open-minded discussions.
More from Thomas Paine
All quotes →That 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
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