On the recordJanuary 1, 1791
The means must be an obliteration of knowledge; and it has never yet been discovered how to make man unknow his knowledge, or unthink his thoughts.
Said by
Thomas Paine
Source
gutenberg.orgThe means must be an obliteration of knowledge; and it has never yet been discovered how to make man unknow his knowledge, or unthink his thoughts.
From "Rights of Man," this passage asserts that a counter-revolution would require the impossible act of obliterating knowledge and making people unknow what they have learned.
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The argument changes from hereditary rights to hereditary wisdom; and the question is, Who is the wisest man?
I know the value of moral instruction, and I have seen the danger of the contrary.