Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Political Conversion Is Best Done Through Persuasion

Posted on December 17, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“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, Federalist No. 1, 1787 Federalist No. 1 may be read … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Conquest, Federalist Papers, First Principles, Free Market of Ideas, Heresies, Persuasion, Politics, Presecution, Proper Argumentation, Religion, Tolerance | Leave a comment

First Principles: We Must Be Equal Before the Law or Equally Enslaved

Posted on December 16, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“In republican governments, men are all equal; equal they are also in despotic governments: in the former, because they are everything; in the latter, because they are nothing.” – Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Baron De Montesquieu, Government, History, Opression, Republic, Rule of Law, Tyranny | Leave a comment

First Principles: Resolve To Do What You Must; Then Do It

Posted on December 15, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.” — Benjamin Franklin (1771) The new year is coming just around the corner. It’s time for my annual reflection on where I am and where I want to … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Benjamin Franklin, First Principles, Goals, Perform, Resolutions, Resolve, Succeed | 2 Comments

First Principles: Assimilation Is Best Encouraged

Posted on December 14, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“The policy or advantage of [immigration] taking place in a body (I mean the settling of them in a body) may be much questioned; for, by so doing, they retain the Language, habits and principles (good or bad) which they … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Adapt, America, Assimilation, Blend, Encourage, First Principles, George Washington, Government, Grow, Immigration | Leave a comment

First Principles: An Honest Man Is Worth More To Society Than Crowned Criminals

Posted on December 13, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.” – Thomas Paine, in Common Sense (1776)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Common Sense, Discernment, First Principles, God, Honest Man, Integrity, Judgment, Thomas Paine, Thuggery | Leave a comment

First Principles: Useful Law Needs To Be Able To Be Easily Read and Understood

Posted on December 12, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” – … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Coherent, Constitution, Federalist No. 62, First Principles, Government, James Madison, Law, Legislation, Read, The People, Understood, Volume | Leave a comment

First Principles: Human Institutions Are Prone To Decay

Posted on December 11, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“How prone all human institutions have been to decay; how subject the best-formed and most wisely organized governments have been to lose their check and totally dissolve; how difficult it has been for mankind, in all ages and countries, to … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Decay, Despotism, Dissolution, Entropy, First Principles, Government, Human Institutions, Incliination, James Monroe, Perservation, Privileges, Propensity, Rights, Virginia Ratifying Convention | Leave a comment

First Principles: Honest Persons Find No Pleasure In Coercive Power

Posted on December 10, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.” — Thomas Jefferson (1813)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Citizens, Coercive Power, First Principles, Governance, Government, Honest People, Integrity, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Nation Should Avoid Perpetual Debt

Posted on December 9, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.” –Thomas Jefferson

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Commerce, Debt, Economy, First Principles, Government, History, Peace, Tax, Thomas Jefferson, War | Leave a comment

First Principles: Knowing History Is A Great Starting Point In Gauging the Present and Future

Posted on December 8, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“History by apprising [citizens] of the past will enable them to judge of the future; it will avail them of the experience of other times and other nations; it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Ambition, Experience, First Principles, History, Judgment, Lessons, Notes On the State of Virginia, Protection, Sharing, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment