| The Age Of Reason, by Thomas Paine (1794) http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/thomas_paine/age_of_reason/intro.html To my fellow Citizens of the United States of America, I put the following work under your protection. It contains my opinion upon Religion. You will do me the justice to remember, that I have always strenuously supported the Right of every Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who demies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it. The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason. I have never used any other, and I trust I never shall. Your affectionate friend and fellow citizen, Thomas Paine Luxembourg, 8th Pluvoise, Second Year of the French Republic, one and indivisable. January 27, O.S. 1794 | |