“It is impossible to calculate the moral mischief, if I may so express it, that mental lying has produced in society. When a man has so far corrupted and prostituted chastity of his mind, as to subscribe his professional belief to things he does not believe, he has prepared himself for the commission of every [...]
Monthly Archives: July 2006
On the Reputations of Men and Nations
Friday, July 28, 2006
“Character is much easier kept than recovered.”
No less true today as it was when Thomas Paine penned these words. The hard lesson is that reputations are also much easier to squander, it seems, than they are to maintain.
thomas paine current events
An Optimistic Outlook Toward Human Nature
Thursday, July 27, 2006
“Human nature is not of itself vicious.”
Was Thomas Paine a bit of an idealist and optimist in this view of human nature? Would he still be today?
If humans are not, by their nature, vicious, how can we explain the endless violence that has plagued humanity since history began? What can we do to get back [...]
On Signing the Kyoto Protocol
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
Does the apparent growing evidence of significant changes in the environmental health of the planet require honest and visionary leadership? If so, is that leadership currently lacking?
Is it time for leaders to emerge that reflect the urgency and potentially far-reaching consequences of our modern carbon-fueled society.
thomas paine [...]
On a Peaceful World for Future Generations
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace”
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If Thomas Paine were Involved in Shuttle Diplomacy in the Middle East
Monday, July 24, 2006
“I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.”
But none are listening.
thomas paine middle east diplmacy middle east crisis current events
On the Ruling and Privileged Class
Friday, July 21, 2006
“Male and female are distinctions of nature, good and bad are distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species, is worth inquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness or of misery to mankind”
From Thomas Paine’s Common [...]
On the Role of Government
Thursday, July 20, 2006
“That government is best which governs least.”
Never more succinctly does Thomas Paine put forth his belief in the limitations of government.
What would Paine think in today’s world, with the debate over a constitutional amendment on gay marriage, or the monitoring of electronic communications, or what the role of government should be regarding issues like climate [...]
On Cheap Energy
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly”
Thomas Paine’s words here ring true for any aspect of our lives, but particularly significant today with the rising cost of energy, in terms of dollars as well as the social and environmental consequences of our energy culture.
For decades we in the developed world have enjoyed an [...]
On Killing in the Name of God
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
“Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man”
Do cruel men create cruel Gods to justify their hate?
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