“Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.”
More from Thomas Paine
“An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.”
“...taxes are not raised to carry on wars, but that wars are raised to carry on taxes.”
“All the tales of miracles, with which the Old and New Testament are filled, are fit only…”
“From the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom.”