Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: We Must Not Get Tired of Doing Good, For We Will Reap At the Proper Time If We Don’t Give Up

“We must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9

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First Principles: Republics Are Created By the Virtue, Public Spirit, and Intelligence of the Citizens

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Most Sacred of the Duties of A Government Is To Do Equal and Impartial Justice To All Citizens

“The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all citizens.” —Thomas Jefferson (1816)

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First Principles: The People Are Not To Be Disarmed of Their Weapons. They Are Left In Full Possession of Them.

“The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them.” – Zacharia Johnson (1788)

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First Principles: War, Like Most Other Things, Is A Science To Be Acquired and Perfected By Diligence, By Perseverance, By Time, and By Practice

“War, like most other things, is a science to be acquired and perfected by diligence, by perseverance, by time, and by practice.” – Alexander Hamilton (1787)

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First Principles: Neither the Wisest Constitution Nor the Wisest Laws Will Secure the Liberty and Happiness of A People Whose Manners Are Universally Corrupt

“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” – Samuel Adams (1749)

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First Principles: Were We Directed From Washington When To Sow, and When To Reap, We Should Soon Want Bread

“Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.” – Thomas Jefferson (1821)

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First Principles: The Same Prudence Which In Private Life Would Forbid Our Paying Our Own Money For Unexplained Projects, Forbids It In the Dispensation of the Public Moneys

“The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public moneys.” – Thomas Jefferson (1808)

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First Principles: Legislators Invent Too Many Devices For Subdividing Property, Only Taking Care To Let Their Subdivisions Go Hand In Hand With The Natural Affections of the Human Mind

“Legislators invent too many devices for subdividing property, only taking care to let their subdivisions go hand in hand with the natural affections of the human mind.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, 1785

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First Principles: It Is the Madness of Folly, To Expect Mercy From Those Who Have Refused To Do Justice, and Even Mercy

“It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as … Continue reading

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