Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Patriotism Is As Much A Virtue As Justice and Is As Necessary For the Support of Societies As Natural Affection Is For the Support of Families

Posted on April 29, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.” – Benjamin Rush

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Benjamin Rush, Family, First Principles, Justice, Natural Affection, Necessary, Patriotism, Society, Support, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government and Civil Society

Posted on April 28, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” – James Madison, in The Federalist Papers, … Continue reading →

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First Principles: When Planning For Posterity, Remember That Virtue Is Not Hereditary

Posted on April 27, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.” – Thomas Paine (1776)

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First Principles: We Have No Government With Power Capable of Contending With Human Passions Unbridled By Morality and Religion

Posted on April 26, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Address to the Military, Contend, First Principles, Government, Human Passions, John Adams, Morality, Power, Religion, Unbridled | 1 Comment

First Principles: A Militia When Properly Formed Are In Fact the People Themselves

Posted on April 25, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves… and include all men capable of bearing arms. . . To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms.” – Richard Henry Lee, … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Keep Your Eyes Wide Open Before Marriage, Half Shut Afterwards

Posted on April 24, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.” – Benjamin Franklin, in Poor Richard’s Almanack

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First Principles: A Love of Truth and A Veneration of Virtue Are the Latent Spark For People Capable of Understanding

Posted on April 23, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty. There is also in human nature a resentment of injury, and indignation against wrong. A love of truth and a veneration of virtue. These amiable passions, are the “latent spark”… If … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Liberty, Once Lost, Is Lost Forever

Posted on April 22, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” – John Adams

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First Principles: A Primary Object Should Be the Education of Our Youth In the Science of Government

Posted on April 21, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing… than … communicating it to those who are to … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Let Justice Be Done Though the Heavens Should Fall

Posted on April 20, 2020 by alohapromisesforever

“Let justice be done though the heavens should fall.” – John Adams, in his Letter to Elbridge Gerry (December 5, 1777)

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