Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Ocean of Liberty Is Stormy and Always Has Waves

Posted on October 13, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.” – Thomas Jefferson (1820)

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First Principles: To Give Trade A Stable Course, Commercial Policy Should Hold An Equal and Impartial Hand

Posted on October 12, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand: neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Commercial Policy, Diversify, First Principles, Free Market, George Washington, Harmony, Impartial, Liberal, Nations, Stable, Trade | Leave a comment

First Principles: Division Is Naturally Sown Among Mankind

Posted on October 11, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 10 (1787)

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First Principles: Inclinations and Passions Must Yield to Evidentiary Facts

Posted on October 10, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” – John Adams (1770)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Dictate, Evidence, Facts, First Prinicples, Inclination, John Adams, Passions, Stubborn, Wishes | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Greatest Good We Can Do Our Country Is Heal Division and Be One People

Posted on October 9, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people.” – Thomas Jefferson (1801)

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First Principles: We Are Either A United People Or We Are Not

Posted on October 8, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a national character to support. If we are … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Act, Division, Farce, First Principles, General Concern, George Washington, Goals, Nation, National Character, Pretense, United People | Leave a comment

First Principles: Be Honorable By Being Necessary For the Public Good

Posted on October 7, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of service necessary for the public good, become honorable by being necessary.” – Nathan Hale (1776)

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First Principles: The Good Moral Character Needed To Lead A Republic Requires Being Both Learned and Virtuous

Posted on October 6, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“A good moral character is the first essential in a man, and that the habits contracted at your age are generally indelible, and your conduct here may stamp your character through life. It is therefore highly important that you should … Continue reading →

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First Principles: Public Opinion Is the Real Sovereign In Free Government

Posted on October 5, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the real sovereign in every free one.” —James Madison (1791)

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First Principles: The Aim of Every Constitution Should Be To Obtain Governance By the Wise and Virtuous

Posted on October 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society.” – James Madison (1788) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Aim, Common Good, Constitution, Discern, First Principles, Governance, James Madison, Pursuit, Society, Virtue, Wisdom | Leave a comment