Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: He Who Permits Himself To Tell A Lie Once, Finds It…Becomes Habitual

“There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.” – … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Right To Freedom Being the Gift of God Almighty, It Is Not the Power of Man To Alienate This Gift

“If men through fear, fraud or mistake, should in terms renounce and give up any essential natural right, the eternal law of reason and the great end of society, would absolutely vacate such renunciation; the right to freedom being the … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Root of the Kingdom Is In the State. The Root of the State Is In the Family. The Root of the Family Is In the Person of Its Head.

“The root of the kingdom is in the state. The root of the state is in the family. The root of the family is in the person of its head.” – Mencius

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First Principles: It Is the Duty of Parents To Maintain Their Children Decently, and According To Their Circumstances; To Protect Them According To the Dictates of Prudence

“It is the duty of parents to maintain their children decently, and according to their circumstances; to protect them according to the dictates of prudence; and to educate them according to the suggestions of a judicious and zealous regard for … Continue reading

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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 Interest of the Man Must Be Connected To the Constitutional Rights of the Place

“The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: Ambition Must Be Made To Counteract Ambition

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses … Continue reading

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First Principles: We Know That Families and Churches, Not Government Officials, Know Best How To Create A Strong and Loving Community…We Don’t Worship Government. We Worship God.

“We know that families and churches, not government [officials], know best how to create a strong and loving community. … In America we don’t worship government. We worship God.” – Donald Trump

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First Principles: Where There Is No Law, There Is No Liberty

“Where there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all the members of the community.” – Benjamin Rush (1788)

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First Principles: There Can Be No Greater Error Than To Expect, or Calculate Upon Real Favors From Nation To Nation

“There can be no greater error than to expect, or calculate upon real favours from Nation to Nation. ‘Tis an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.” – George Washington (1796)

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