Thomas Paine – The First American Blogger
His Words in Today's Context
“To see it in our power to make a world happy – to teach mankind the art of being – to exhibit on the theater of the universe, a character hitherto unknown – and to have, as it were, a new creation entrusted to our hands, are honors that command reflection, and can neither be …
Continue reading “On Change, Creating a Better World, and Gratitude”
“Among ridiculous things nothing is more ridiculous than ridiculous rage.”-Thomas Paine There are those that don’t know which battles to choose in life, those that do, and those that charge into an invented battle with indignation and rage, obscuring, to the casual observer, the twisted deficiency of the invention. For whatever reason it is done, …
“To draw foolish portraits of each other, is a mode of attack and reprisal, which the greater part of mankind are fond of indulging.”-Thomas Paine Every election cycle, early on, civility is promised. Then, as events heat up in the mad race to election day, civility turns to accusation and acrimony. Cries of “foul!” ensue, …
“When it becomes necessary to do a thing, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it”-Thomas Paine, Rights of Man If it is something truly worthwhile, then it requires the best effort you can give it, or you are unworthy of the cause. Tags: thomas+paine, thomas+paine+quotes, quotes+interpreted
“It is more generous to be wrong on the side of confidence than on the side of suspicion.”-Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason To be forthright in your belief, and be wrong, is better than to error in unwarranted suspicion. Tags: Thomas+Paine, Thomas+Paine+quotes, quotes+interpreted, suspicion, confidence, belief, wrong+for+the+right+reasons
“Wealth is no proof of moral character; nor poverty of the want of it — On the contrary, wealth is often the presumptive evidence of dishonesty; and poverty the negative evidence of innocence.”-Thomas Paine, Principles of Government The accumulation of wealth often carries with it a moral burden; one most easily avoided by the simple innocence of it. …
“There are many things which in themselves are neither morally good nor bad, but they are productive of consequences, which are strongly marked with one or other of these characters.”-Thomas Paine “Who would know?”, “What’s the harm?”, “Nobody gets hurt…” But what if you’re wrong? Tags: thomas+paine, thomas+paine+quotes, quotes+interpreted, morality, moral+consequence
“A life chequered with uncommon varieties is seldom a long one. Action and care will in time wear down the strongest frame, but guilt and melancholy are poisons of quick despatch.”-Thomas Paine Guilt and remorse are a diseases that afflict the human spirit. A life lived at odds with our fundamental nature is seldom long or happy. …
“When the tongue or the pen is let loose in a frenzy of passion, it is the man and not the subject that becomes exhausted”-Thomas Paine, Rights of Man In many cases one thing the blogosphere lacks, other than not always having its facts straight, is civility. The only thing new is the method of …
Continue reading “On the Blogoshere, Grassroots Media, and the Citizen Journalist”
“It is folly to argue against determined hardness; eloquence may strike the ear, and the language of sorrow draw forth the tear of compassion, but nothing can reach the heart that is steeled with prejudice.” A mind stuck in fear, prejudice, and hatred can only become unstuck of it’s own will. It is impenetrable. It …