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Category Archives: First Principles
First Principles: Passion Never Fails To Wrest the Scepter From Reason
“In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the sceptre from reason. … Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.” – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. … Continue reading
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Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Assemblies, Athens, Character, Citizen, Compose, Federalist Papers, First Principles, Mob, Never Fail, Numerous, Passion, Reason, Scepter, Socrates, Wrest
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First Principles: Every Man Ought To Be Protected In Worshipping the Deity According to the Dictates of His Own Conscience
“I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own … Continue reading
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Tagged Accountable, Alone, Deity, Dictate, Every Man, Express, First Principles, George Washington, God, Good Citizen, Own Conscience, Protected, Religious Opinions, Sentiment, Worship
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First Principles: A Constitution Founded On These Principles…Makes the Common People Brave and Enterprising
“A constitution founded on these principles introduces knowledge among the people, and inspires them with a conscious dignity becoming freemen; a general emulation takes place, which causes good humor, sociability, good manners, and good morals to be general. That elevation … Continue reading
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Tagged Ambition, Brave, Concious Dignity, Constitution, Emulation, Enterprising, First Principles, Freemen, Frugal, Good Humor, Good Manners, Good Morals, Government, Industrious, Inspire, John Adams, Knowledge, Principles, Sentiment, Sober, Sociability, The People, Thoughts On Government
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First Principles: A Fondness For Power Is Implanted, In Most Men, and It Is Natural To Abuse It When Acquired
“A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it, when acquired.” – Alexander Hamilton (1775)
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Tagged Abuse, Acquire, Alexander Hamilton, First Principles, Fondness, Implant, Mankind, Natural, Power
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First Principles: Without Liberty, Law Loses Its Nature…and Becomes Oppression. Without Law, Liberty…Becomes Licentiousness
“Without liberty, law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without law, liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness.” – James Wilson (1790) An organization worth knowing: http://jameswilsoninstitute.org/
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Tagged First Principles, James Wilson, Law, Liberty, Licentiousness, Name, Nature, Oppression
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First Principles: All Sober Inquirers After Truth… Pagan and Christian, Have Declared That the Happiness of Man, As Well As His Dignity, Consists In Virtue
“We ought to consider what is the end of government before we determine which is the best form. Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and … Continue reading
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Tagged Ancient, Best Form, Christian, Consider, Dignity, Divine, End of Government, First Principles, Happiness, Individual, Inquirer, John Adams, Mankind, Modern, Moral Philosophers, Pagan, Society, Thoughts On Government, Truth, Virtue
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First Principles: We Must Meet Our Duty and Convince the World That We are Just Friends and Brave Enemies
“I am ever unwilling that [peace] should be disturbed as long as the rights and interests of the nations can be preserved. But whensoever hostile aggressions require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world … Continue reading
First Principles: We Have A Set of Maxims of the Same Spirit, Which Must Be Beloved By Every Friend of Liberty, To Virtue, to Mankind. Our Bill of Rights Contains Those Admirable Maxims
“There are certain maxims by which every wise and enlightened people will regulate their conduct. There are certain political maxims, which no free people out ever to abandon. Maxims of which the observance is essential to the security of happiness. … Continue reading
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Tagged Beloved, Bill of Rights, Contain, First Principles, Friend, Liberty, Mankind, Maxims, Patrick Henry, Same Spirit, Virtue
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First Principles: The Strongest Reason For the People To Retain the Right To Keep and Bear Arms Is, As A Last Resort, To Protect Themselves Against Tyranny In Government
“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.“ – Thomas Jefferson
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Tagged First Principles, Government, Keep and Bear Arms, Last Resort, Protect, Retain, Right, Strongest Reason, The People, Thomas Jefferson, Tyranny
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