Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Heresies In Politics and Religious Are Equally Incurable Through Persecution

“In politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.” – Alexander Hamilton (1787)    

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First Principles: The Possibilities of Mischief In the Governance of Man Should Remain Bound By the Constitution

“In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson (1798)    

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First Principles: Where There Is No Law, There Is No Liberty

“Where there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all the members of the community.” – Benjamin Rush (1788)      

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First Principles: Seek Always the Pursuit of Truth; One Lie Leads To Habitual Lies

“There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.” – … Continue reading

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First Principles: The God Who Gave Us Life Gave Us Liberty

“God who gave us life gave us Liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that … Continue reading

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First Principles: Contemplate On What Is Right and Good

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — … Continue reading

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First Principles: America’s Should Always Be An Attitude of Thankfulness For All of the Blessings God Has Granted

“I do recommend and assign [this Thanksgiving Day] to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or … Continue reading

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First Principles: Legitimate Government Seeks To Secure and Enlarge the Exercise of Natural Rights of Its Members

“Government, in my humble opinion, should be formed to secure and to enlarge the exercise of the natural rights of its members; and every government, which has not this in view, as its principal object, is not a government of … Continue reading

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First Principles: A General Education of the People Will End Tyranny and Oppression of Mind and Body

“Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)      

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First Principles: Democracy Has the Propensity Towards Licentiousness

“The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.” – Fisher Ames (1788)      

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