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

Thomas Paine Quote

“When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon.”

Thomas PaineThomas Paine
~ Thomas Paine


Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

A license is: “The personal privilege to do some particular act or series of act ⋯ The permission by competent authority to do an act which, without such permission would be illegal” (Black’s Law Dictionary 6th) As constituted: U.S. Constitution, Article: I Section IX clause VIII (national prohibition), and Article: I Section X clause I ; “No State shall ⋯ grant any Title of Nobility”; and further, “What is prohibited to the States is forbidden to the Court to enforce”, (California Motor Transport Co. v. Trucking Unlimited, 404 U.S. 908 {1972}). What is a ‘Title of Nobility’ as Constitutionally understood. A‘Title of Nobility’ is: “To confer a title of nobility, is to nominate to an order of persons to whom privileges are granted ⋯ It is not necessarily hereditary, and the objection to it arises more from the privileges supposed to be attached, than to the otherwise empty title or order.” (Horst v. Moses 48 Ala. 129, 142 (1872); Corpus Juris, 46, 598, Nobility note 4;) (marriage, transporting one's self, entering contracts, etc. are title of nobility acts) When the first license was issued, the last shadow of liberty began to quit the horizon. The privilege of thinking now excludes such topics as freedom, liberty, honest non-corrupted elections, and the exercise of inalienable rights.

Vedapushpa, Bangalore - India

The problem lies in the fact that - in this 21st century - I find that 'thinking' that as a claim and act has come to include 'wishful thinking'... and it is a cruel joke on anyone who quotes or tries to act on them - on the implicit belief that the person has 'logically thought of it' !!

jim k, Austin, Tx

" Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own commonsense." The Buddha

E Archer, NYC

I wouldn't call thinking a 'privilege' -- more like a duty. Freedom requires Responsibility. The Truth reigns supreme -- better to be in harmony with it. Illusion and delusion are still the devices of servitude.

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