Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: There Is But One Straight Course, and That Is To Seek Truth And Pursue Steadily

“There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.” —George Washington (1795-

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First Principles: Public Virtue Cannot Exist In A Nation Without Private, and Public Virtue Is the Only Foundation of Republics

“Public virtue cannot exist in a nation without private, and public virtue is the only foundation of republics. There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of … Continue reading

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First Principles: I Place Economy Among the First and Most Important of Republican Virtues, and Public Debt As the Greatest of the Dangers To Be Feared

“I … place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)

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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: Wisdom, and Good Examples Are Necessary At This Time To Rescue the Political Machine From the Impending Storm

“Wisdom, and good examples are necessary at this time to rescue the political machine from the impending storm.” – George Washington, Letter to James Madison (November 5, 1786)

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First Principles: As Riches Increase and Accumulate In Few Hands…the Tendency of Things Will Be To Depart From the Republican Standard

“As riches increase and accumulate in few hands, as luxury prevails in society, virtue will be in a greater degree considered as only a graceful appendage of wealth, and the tendency of things will be to depart from the republican … Continue reading

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First Principles: They That Can Give Up Essential Liberty To Obtain A Little Temporary Safety, Deserve Neither Liberty Nor Safety

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin (1795)

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First Principles: The Essence of Government Is Power, Lodged As It Must Be In Human Hands, Will Ever Be Liable to Abuse

“The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” – James Madison (1829)

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First Principles: The Army (Considering the Irritable State It Is In, Its Suffering and Composition) Is A Dangerous Instrument To Play With

“The Army (considering the irritable state it is in, its suffering and composition) is a dangerous instrument to play with.” – George Washington (1783)

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First Principles: The Care of Human Life and Happiness, and Not Their Destruction, Is the First and Only Legitimate Object of Good Government

“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson (1809)

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