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About this quote

What does it mean?
There are only five statues of Thomas Paine worldwide.
In plain terms
His physical memorials are very few.
What can you take from it?
Physical monuments do not fully reflect a person's impact.

Where it applies

  • public spaces
  • historical sites

Putting it to work

  • visit existing statues
  • create digital tributes

Questions to consider

  • Why are there so few statues?
  • What other ways honor a legacy?

Another view

Number of statues is an arbitrary measure of significance.

More from Thomas Paine

  1. Five statues: July 4,1950 statue dedication speech at Morristown, NJ

    Permalink to quote #76

  2. Thomas Paine - An Unsung Hero (Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc)

    Permalink to quote #71

  3. I consider Paine our greatest political thinker. As we have not advanced, and perhaps never shall advance, beyond the Declaration and Constitution, so Paine ha…

    Permalink to quote #67

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