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Category Archives: First Principles
First Principles: To Prevent Crimes Is the Noblest End and Aim of Criminal Jurisprudence
“To prevent crimes, is the noblest end and aim of criminal jurisprudence. To punish them, is one of the means necessary for the accomplishment of this noble end and aim.” – James Wilson (1790)
First Principles: A Good Government Implies Two Things; First, Fidelity To the Objects of the Government; Secondly, A Knowledge of the Means By Which Those Objects Can Be Best Attained
“A good government implies two things; first, fidelity to the objects of the government; secondly, a knowledge of the means, by which those objects can be best attained.” – Joseph Story (1833)
First Principles: If People Are Capable of Understanding, Seeing and Feeling the Differences Between True and False…To What Better Principle Can the Friends of Mankind Apply…?
“If the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling the differences between true and false, right and wrong, virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?” – … Continue reading
First Principles: Every Government Degenerates When Trusted To the Rulers of the People Alone. The People Themselves, Therefore, Are Its Only Safe Depositories
“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories.” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)
First Principles: He Therefore Is the Truest Friend To the Liberty of This Country Who Tries Most To Promote Its Virtue
“He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of this country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office … Continue reading
First Principles: The Truth Will Ultimately Prevail Where There Is Pains To Bring It To Light
“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington
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Tagged First Principles, George Washington, Light, Pain, Prevail, Truth, Ultimate
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First Principles: A Nation, Despicable By Its Weakness, Forfeits Even the Privilege of Being Neutral
“The rights of neutrality will only be respected when they are defended by an adequate power. A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral.” – Alexander Hamilton (1787)
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Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Defend, Despicable, First Principles, Forfeit, Nation, Neutral, Privilege, Respect, Weakness
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First Principles: When We Are Planning For Posterity, We Ought To Remember That Virtue Is Not Hereditary
“When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.” – Thomas Paine (1776)
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Tagged First Principles, Hereditary, Ought, Plan, Posterity, Remember, Thomas Paine, Virtue
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First Principles: Nothing Is More Certain Than That A General Profligacy and Corruption of Manners Make A People Ripe For Destruction
“Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners make a people ripe for destruction. A good form of government may hold the rotten materials together for some time, but beyond a certain pitch, even the … Continue reading
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Tagged Best Constitution, Beyond, Certain Pitch, Corruption, Destruction, Ensue, First Principles, General Profligacy, Good Form of Government, Ineffectual, John Witherspoon, manners, More Certain, Nothing, Ripe, Rotten Materials, Slavery, The People, Together
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