A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Thomas PaineRead
Not a place upon earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the wrangling world, and she has nothing to do but to trade with them.
Interpretation
Paine expresses a belief that America's geographical isolation allows it to thrive in peace and prosperity.
In this quote, Thomas Paine highlights the unique position of America, suggesting that its remoteness from global conflicts provides an opportunity for happiness and trade rather than strife. He implies that being distanced from the 'wrangling world' allows America to focus on growth and commerce, making it an ideal place for prosperity.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the advantages of geographical advantages in economics.
A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
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.
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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.
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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
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That is someone who follows the teachings of the nonviolent Jesus and takes the gospel personally, and then pays the price. I fall into that category.
I finally understood: In order to contribute to Africa, I would have to know myself better and be clearer about my goals. I would have to be ready to take Africa on its own terms, not mine, and to learn my limits and present myself not as a do-gooder with a big heart, but as someone with something to give and gain by being there. Compassion wasn't enough
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The less I have, the freer I am to do whatever I want to do.
Disgust is often more deeply buried than envy and anger, but it compounds and intensifies the other negative emotions.
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