Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Peace Is Better Than War; War Is Better than Tribute

Posted on November 12, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“It is a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.” – James Madison (1816)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged America, First Principles, James Madison, Peace, Settled Policy, Tribute, War | 1 Comment

First Principles: A Debt of Gratitude Is Owed To All Veterans and Their Families, Especially Wives

Posted on November 11, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, ‘What should be the reward of such sacrifices?’ … If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Death, Duty, First Principles, Gratitude, Honor, Injuries, Sacrifice, Samuel Adams, Service, Suicide, Thought | Leave a comment

First Principles: Love of Truth and Veneration of Virtue Are the Sparks of Discernment of Right and Wrong and True and False

Posted on November 10, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“A love of truth and a veneration of virtue. These amiable passions, are the ‘latent spark’… If the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling the differences between true and false, right and wrong, virtue and vice, to what … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Difference, False, First Principles, John Adams, Latent Spark, Love of Truth, Mankind, Passions, Principle, Right, True, Understand, Veneration of Virtue, Vice, Virtue, Wrong | Leave a comment

First Principles: Let Us Rely On the Goodness of Our Causes and the Aid of God

Posted on November 9, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions.” – George Washington, in his General Orders (1776) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Action, Aid, America, Enourage, First Principles, George Washington, Goodness of the Cause, Noble, Rely, Supreme Being, Victory | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Whole Art of Government Consists of Being Honest and Doing Your Duty

Posted on November 8, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“It behooves you, therefore, to think and act for yourself and your people. 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Act, Art of Government, Credit, Duty, First Principles, Honest, Humanity, Learn, Read, Right, Think, Wrong | Leave a comment

First Principles: To Vote Is A Solemn Trust Accountable To God and Country

Posted on November 7, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual — or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Accountable, Citizen, Country, First Principles, God, Samuel Adams, Society, Solemn Trust, Vote | Leave a comment

First Principles: Laws Are Made For Men of Ordinary Understanding To Be Construed By Ordinary Rules of Common Sense

Posted on November 6, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Anything, Common Sense, Construed, Everything, First Principles, Law, Mankind, Meaning, Metaphysical Subtleties, Nothing, Ordinary Understanding, Thomas Jefferson, Whim | Leave a comment

First Principles: Those Who Follow Christian Holidays Should Follow Christian Precepts

Posted on November 5, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“How many observe Christ’s birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” – Benjamin Franklin (1743)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Benjamin Franklin, Christ's Birthday, Commandments, First Principles, Holidays, Observe, Precepts | Leave a comment

First Principles: Let All Free Persons Encourage and Strengthen One Another To Our Best Ends

Posted on November 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Let us animate and encourage each other. … A Freeman contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth.” – George Washington (1776)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Animate, Earth, Encourage, First Principles, Free Persons, George Washington, Liberty, One Another, Slavish Mercenary, Superior | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Prosperous Economy Promotes the Living Standard of All

Posted on November 3, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted.” – Alexander Hamilton (1791) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Activity, Alexander Hamilton, Cherish, Enterprise, First Principles, Human Mind, Promote, Standard of Living, Stimulate, Wealth | Leave a comment