"Man is not the enemy of man,..." - Quote by Thomas Paine
Man is not the enemy of man, but through the medium of a false system of Government. Instead, therefore, of exclaiming against the ambition of kings, the exclamation should be directed against the principle of such governments; and instead of seeking to reform the individual, the wisdom of a nation should apply itself to reform the system.
More by Thomas Paine
“The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.”
“Whatever has a tendency to promote the civil intercourse of nations by an exchange of benefits is a subject as worthy of philosophy as of politics.”
“He, who survives his reputation, lives out of despite himself, like a man listening to his own reproach.”
More on Government
“The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors.”
“Government is best which governs least”
“We've gone astray from first principles. We've lost sight of the rule that individual freedom and ingenuity are at the very core of everything that we've accomplished. Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.”
More on Reform
“Education is the basic tool for the development of consciousness and the reconstitution of society.”
“It is not the prisoners who need reformation, it is the prisons.”
“What we should be asking is not whether we need a big government or small government, but how we can create a smarter and better government.”