Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: America’s Cause Is the World’s Cause

Posted on March 17, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.” – Thomas Paine The American experiment in the people ruling themselves is maybe the greatest and most noble experiment in the world’s history. Around the world … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged America, First Principles, Freedom, Liberty, Mankind, Self Rule, Thomas Paine | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Spirit of Liberty Respects and Insists On the Rights of Others

Posted on March 16, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The spirit of liberty is not merely, as multitudes imagine, a jealousy of our own particular rights, but a respect for the rights of others, and an unwillingness that any man, whether high or low, should be wronged and trampled … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged First Principles, Individual Rights, Others, Ours, Respect, Spirit of Liberty, Unwillingness, William Ellery Channing | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Sea of Liberty Is Often Rough

Posted on March 15, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

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

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Boistrous, Calm, Despotism, First Principles, Sea of Liberty, Thomas Jefferson, Timidity, Waves | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Aim of Constitutions Is To Obtain Leaders Who Pursue the Common Good of Society

Posted on March 14, 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 Common Good, Discernment, First Principles, Goal, Government, James Madison, Leaders, Political Constitution, Society, Virtue, Wisdom | Leave a comment

First Principles: Power Directed Only By Human Wisdom and Benevolence Is Dangerous

Posted on March 13, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Power in any form … when directed only by human wisdom and benevolence is dangerous.” –John Adams, An Attempt to Land a Bishop in America, 1769 Someone once asked me here if I felt the Founding Fathers did not believe … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged An Attempt To Land A Bishop In America, Benevolence, Dangerous, First Principles, Government, Human Wisdom, John Adams, Power | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Good Government Is Wise and Fiscally Responsible To Its Citizens

Posted on March 12, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“A wise and frugal government … shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Bread, Earnings, First Principles, Frugal, Government, Industry, Labor, Restraint From Injury, Thomas Jefferson, Wise | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Good Government Supports Education and the Spread of Knowledge and Wisdom

Posted on March 11, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support.” – Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1792

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Aristrocratic, Education, First Principles, Good Governance, Ignorance, Nation, Rights of Man, Thomas Paine | Leave a comment

First Principles: Each Branch of Government Is Co-Equal In Interpreting the Constitution

Posted on March 10, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and has an equal right to decide for itself what is the meaning of the constitution in … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Branches, Consitution, Construction, Equal, First Principles, Independence, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Promotion of Trade Offers Stability

Posted on March 9, 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, Equal, First Principles, George Washington, Harmony, Impartial, Nations, Stable, Trade | Leave a comment

First Principles: Democracy Degenerates Into Anarchy Without Subordination to Morality

Posted on March 8, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Anarchy, Degenerates, Democracy, First Principles, John Adams, Liberty, Life, Morality, Property, Reputation, Security, Subordination, Virtue | Leave a comment