Political Quotes

Thomas Paine: “When men are sore with the sense of oppressions, and menaced with the prospects of new ones, is the calmness of…”

On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
When men are sore with the sense of oppressions, and menaced with the prospects of new ones, is the calmness of philosophy or the palsy of insensibility to be looked for?
Said by
Thomas Paine

Editor's note · Context

Paine asks whether philosophical calmness or insensibility can be expected from people suffering from oppression and facing new threats.

Share

More from Thomas Paine

Jan 1, 1791

I have carefully avoided to enlarge upon the subject, because I am inclined to believe that what is called the present ministry, wish to see contentions about religion kept up, to prevent the nation turning its attention to subjects of…

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1791

I do not believe that any two men, on what are called doctrinal points, think alike who think at all.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1791

Reason and discussion, persuasion and conviction, become the weapons in the contest, and it is only when those are attempted to be suppressed that recourse is had to violence.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1791

If, therefore, the good to be obtained be worthy of a passive, rational, and costless revolution, it would be bad policy to prefer waiting for a calamity that should force a violent one.

gutenberg.org