Thomas Paine: “What they were proud of, we despised: and this is a principal cause why all their negotiations, constructed on this…”

As to what are called national religions, we may, with as much propriety, talk of national Gods.

In those which proceed from the former cause, the temper becomes incensed and soured; and the redress, obtained by danger, is too often sullied by revenge.

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.

It is only those who have not thought that appear to agree.