"Thus commerce, though in itself a moral..." - Quote by Thomas Paine
Thus commerce, though in itself a moral nullity, has had a considerable influence in tempering the human mind....he trades with the same countries ...(that he) would have gone to war with.
More by Thomas Paine
“A share in two revolutions is living to some purpose.”
“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.”
“Paper money is like dram-drinking, it relieves for a moment by deceitful sensation, but gradually diminishes the natural heat, and leaves the body worse than it found it. Were not this the case, and could money be made of paper at pleasure, every sovereign in Europe would be as rich as he pleased. But the truth is, that it is a bubble and the attempt vanity. Nature has provided the proper materials for money: gold and silver, and any attempt of ours to rival her is ridiculous.”
More on Commerce
“Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because equity demands that we should, but to facilitate future loans.”
“To those who are engaged in commercial dealings, justice is indispensable for the conduct of business.”
“I am for free commerce with all nations; political connection with none; and little or no diplomatic establishment”
More on Peace
“If the King loves music, it is well with the land.”
“Our object now, as then, is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice in the life of the world as against selfish and autocratic power, and to set up among the really free and self-governed peoples of the world such a concert of purpose and of action as will henceforth insure the observance of those principles.”
“Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.”