Thomas Paine Quotes About Virtue

Quotes about: Virtue

• When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.

  Thomas Paine

  Pain, War, 4th Of July

  Thomas Paine (2015). “Common Sense: and The American Crisis I”, p.38, Penguin

• Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice.

  Thomas Paine

  Pain, Motivation, Vices

  The Rights of Man pt. 2, ch. 5 (1792) See Goldwater 3

• Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it.

  Thomas Paine

  Country, Winter, Cities

  Thomas Paine, Bruce Kuklick (2000). “Paine: Political Writings”, p.54, Cambridge University Press

• It is easy to see that when republican virtue fails, slavery ensues.

  Thomas Paine

  Slavery, Republican, Failing

  Thomas Paine (2014). “Selected Writings of Thomas Paine”, p.19, Yale University Press

• Those words, temperate and moderate, are words either of political cowardice, or of cunning, or seduction. A thing, moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper, is always a virtue; but moderation in principle, is a species of vice.

  Thomas Paine

  Pain, Political, Vices

  Thomas Paine (1998). “Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings”, p.383, OUP Oxford

• Here then is the origin and rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world; here too is the design and end of government, viz. Freedom and security.

  Thomas Paine

  Government, Design, Inability

  Thomas Paine (2015). “Common Sense: and The American Crisis I”, p.16, Penguin

• Let the world see that this nation can bear prosperity; and that her honest virtue in time of peace is equal to her bravest valor in time of war.

  Thomas Paine

  Peace, War, World

• Virtues are acquired through endeavor, Which rests wholly upon yourself. So, to praise others for their virtues Can but encourage one's own efforts.

  Thomas Paine

  Encouraging, Encouragement, Motivation

• Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it. Say not that thousands are gone, turn out your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but "show your faith by your works," that God may bless you. It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all.

  Thomas Paine

  Country, Winter, Blessing

  Thomas Paine (2015). “Common Sense: and The American Crisis I”, p.53, Penguin

• Never, I say, had a country so many openings to happiness as this.... Her cause was good. Her principles just and liberal. Her temper serene and firm.... The remembrance then of what is past, if it operates rightly must inspire her with the most laudable of an ambition, that of adding to the fair fame she began with. The world has seen her great adversity.... Let then, the world see that she can bear prosperity; and that her honest virtue in time of peace is equal to the bravest virtue in time of war.

  Thomas Paine

  Country, War, Adversity

• We feel something like respect for consistency even in error. We lament the virtue that is debauched into a vice; but the vice that affects a virtue becomes the more detestable.

  Thomas Paine

  Errors, Consistency, Vices

  Thomas Paine (1990). “The Crisis Papers, 1776-1783”, p.136, Rowman & Littlefield

• Virtue is not hereditary.

  Thomas Paine

  Virtue, Hereditary

  Thomas Paine (2016). “COMMON SENSE (Political Classics Series): Advocating Independence to People in the Thirteen Colonies - Addressed to the Inhabitants of America”, p.34, e-artnow

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