Thomas Paine: “The more it is struck the more sparks it will emit; and the fear is it will not be struck enough.”

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

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.

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

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.