A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.
Thomas PaineRead
Of more worth is one honest man to society, and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.
Interpretation
What this quote means
An honest man holds more value to society and morality than corrupt rulers.
In this quote, Thomas Paine emphasizes the intrinsic worth of an honest individual compared to the great number of dishonest leaders or rulers who may hold power. He suggests that true value lies in the virtue and integrity of a person rather than their social status or authority, highlighting the importance of moral character over position or wealth.
Themes
HonestyIntegritySocietyMoralityValue
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethics in leadership, this quote can remind us of the importance of integrity.
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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