A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Thomas PaineRead
He, who survives his reputation, lives out of despite himself, like a man listening to his own reproach.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the struggle of living under the weight of one's reputation and the internal conflict that arises from it.
Thomas Paine's quote suggests that a person can become overshadowed by their reputation, leading to a sense of existence that is more about enduring judgment than truly living. It reflects the idea that when one is defined by others' perceptions, their freedom and authenticity are compromised, as they may find themselves constantly burdened by their past actions and how they are viewed in society.
Themes
ReputationIdentitySelf-PerceptionExistenceJudgment
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth, one could use this quote to discuss overcoming the limitations imposed by society's perceptions.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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