Thomas PaineThomas Paine, (1737-1809) US Founding father, pamphleteer, author

Thomas Paine Quote

“Time makes more converts than reason.”

Thomas PaineThomas Paine
~ Thomas Paine


Ratings and Comments


E Archer, NYC

Let us not imply that this means that given enough time, all will turn out for the best whether we do the right thing or not. I understand it to mean that time-honored customs often lead the unquestioning masses in unreasonable directions.

jim k, Austin

E Archer, I think you nailed it.

Mike, Norwalk

Archer, excellent. If you get beat-up long enough with no actual fault, no matter the reasoning, soon, conversion to another outcome is sought.

RBESRQ
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RBESRQ    1/14/10

Time, our lifetime companion, is no more a matter of passing hours, days, years, but a moment, and each moment is time to change. The making of our Universe, short of a millisecond, would change all that; so time is not important - what is important is the moment and what we do it. I'll give it five for it's other meaning.

Jenna Tolls, D.C.

I think that my good friend Thomas is trying to acquire the simple fact that if a ritual is done for quite some time then people are used to it and do not want to rebel. BUT THE DAY WILL COME.

mommy, town

yall mad nerds

Old Guy, tiburon

Paine is referring to time in the aging of process.  As a youth we only have "reason" to work through the issues of life.  As we age, time gives us experience, which translates even unknowingly into wisdom.

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