Ideologies / Minarchist / Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine — ink portrait
§ The minds · 1737–1809 · England / US · Revolutionary pamphleteer

Thomas Paine

Government, a necessary evil

The least state, and the rights of man.

Economic+0
SocialistMarket
Governance−72
LibertarianAuthoritarian
Social+45
TraditionalProgressive
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The revolutionary pamphleteer whose 'Common Sense' framed government as at best a necessary evil — a touchstone for those who want the state held to its barest minimum.

social

Radical progressive — rights of man, anti-monarchy, anti-slavery.

economic

Mixed views — free society with an early basic-income idea.

governance

'Government even in its best state is but a necessary evil.'

Notable for
  • 'Common Sense'
  • 'Rights of Man'
  • 'The Age of Reason'
necessary-evilrights-of-manrevolution
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