"Ignorance is of a peculiar nature; once..." - Quote by Thomas Paine

“Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.”

“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”

“In a general view, there are few conquests that repay the charge of making them, and mankind are pretty well convinced that it can never be worth their while to go to war for profit's sake. If they are made war upon, their country invaded, or their existence at stake, it is their duty to defend and preserve themselves, but in every other light, and from every other cause, is war inglorious and detestable.”

“People tend to fear what they do not know, and what they fear they dislike.”

“There is a dangerous optimism of ignorance and indifference.”

“In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.”

“And to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.”

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge.”

“I wash my hands of those who imagine chattering to be knowledge, silence to be ignorance, and affection to be art.”