Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Propitious Smiles of Heaven, Can Never Be Expected On A Nation That Disregards the Eternal Rules of Order and Right, Which Heaven Itself Has Ordained

“The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained.” – George Washington (1789)

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First Principles: My Own Personal Popularity Can Have No Influence Over Me When the Dictates of My Best Judgment and the Obligations of An Oath Require of Me A Particular Course

“My own personal popularity can have no influence over me when the dictates of my best judgment and the obligations of an oath require of me a particular course. Under such circumstances, whether I sink or swim on the tide … Continue reading

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First Principles: Go Now and Leave Your Life of Sin

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one … Continue reading

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First Principles: Man, Once Surrendering His Reason, Has No Remaining Guard Against Absurdities The Most Monstrous

“Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand … Continue reading

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First Principles: Hard Words Are Very Rarely Useful. Real Firmness Is Good For Everything. Strut Is Good for Nothing.

“Hard words are very rarely useful. Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing.” – Alexander Hamilton

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First Principles: Judges Minds Should Not Be Distracted With Jarring Interests; They Should Not Be Dependent Upon Any Man, Or Body of Men

“[Judges’] minds should not be distracted with jarring interests; they should not be dependent upon any man, or body of men.” – John Adams (1776) Turning to violence and threats to impose the will of some over a majority of … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Sacred Rights of Mankind…Are Written…In the Whole Volume of Human Nature, By the Hand of the Divinity Itself

“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and … Continue reading

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First Principles: Among the Natural Rights (of the People) Are There: First, A Right To Life, Secondly, To Liberty; Thirdly to Property

“Among the natural rights [of the people] are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” – Samuel Adams (1772)

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First Principles: The Best of All Government Is That Which Teaches Us To Govern Ourselves

“The best of all government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832

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First Principles: We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident,…Endowed By Their Creator With Certain Unalienable Rights, That Among These Are LIFE

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – The Declaration of Independence … Continue reading

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