Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: No Man Is Allowed To Be A Judge In His Own Cause, Because His Interest Would Certainly Bias His Judgment, and, Not Improbably, Corrupt His Integrity

“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.” – James Madison (1787)

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First Principles: Without Freedom of Thought There Can Be No Such Thing As Wisdom; and No Such Thing As Public Liberty, Without Freedom of Speech

“Without Freedom of Thought there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.” – Benjamin Franklin (1722)

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First Principles: Where An Excess of Power Prevails, Property of No Sort Is Duly Respected

“Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions.” – James Madison (1792)

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First Principles: The Judicial Branch May Truly Be Said To Have Neither Force Nor Will, But Merely Judgment and Must Ultimately Depend On the Aid of the Executive Arm Even For the Efficacy of Its Judgments

“[The judicial branch] may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments.” – Alexander Hamilton (1788)

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First Principles: Let Us Prepare For the Worst. We Can Die Here But Once

“Let us prepare for the worst. We can die here but once.” – Abraham Clark

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First Principles: I Hold the Maxim No Less Applicable To Public Than To Private Affairs, That Honesty Is Always the Best Policy

“I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy.” – George Washington

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First Principles: It Will Be of Little Avail To the People If the Laws Are So Voluminous That They Cannot Be Read Or So Incoherent That They Cannot Be Understood

“It will be of little avail to the people if the laws are so voluminous that they cannot be read or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” – James Madison

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First Principles: It Is Error Alone, Which Needs the Support of Government. Truth Can stand by itself.

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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First Principles: The Great Principles of Right and Wrong Are Legible To Every Reader

“The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors. The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, … Continue reading

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First Principles: I Know No Safe Depository of the Ultimate Power of the Society But the People Themselves

“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from … Continue reading

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