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Category Archives: First Principles
First Principles: The Bill of Rights Is Needed To Curb Taking of Natural Rights
“A people, entering into society, surrender such a part of their natural rights, as shall be necessary for the existence of that society. They are so precious in themselves, that they would never be parted with, did not the preservation … Continue reading
First Principles: Our Values Must Be Guarded By All Vigilant Citizens
“It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which they have bled. It must be the combined virtue of the rulers and of the people … Continue reading
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Tagged American, Civil Rights, First Principles, Mercy Warren, Necessity, Religious Rights, Reponsibility, Tyranny, Vigilence, Virtue, We The People
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First Principles: Democracy Leads To Licentiousness Not Liberty
“The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and ignorant believe to be liberty.” –Fisher Ames, speech in the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788 One need only look at the recent law passed by California in … Continue reading
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Tagged Constitution, Democracy, First Principles, Fisher Ames, Liberty, Licentiousness, Republic
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First Principles: It Is Essential To Our Republic To Bear Arms and Know How To Use Them
“To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them… The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a … Continue reading
First Principles: Facts Are Stubborn Things
“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) in ‘Argument in Defense of the Soldiers in the Boston Massacre … Continue reading
First Principles: Persons of Intemperate Minds Cannot Be Free
“Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of … Continue reading
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Tagged Appetite, Control, Edmund Burker, Enslaved, External, First Principles, France, Free, French Revolution, Intemperance, Internal, Passions, Society, Will
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First Principles: Truest Civility Requires Following God’s Ways
“Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.” —James Madison (1785) I won’t sugar coat this one. The lack of adherence to God’s … Continue reading
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Tagged Christanity, Civil, Civility, Disorder, First Principles, God, James Madison, Society, Subject
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First Principles: Man’s Very Nature Causes Faction
“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.” —James Madison, Federalist No. 10 (1787) To read our founding fathers’ thoughts on faction please see: http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm
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Tagged Causes, Faction, Federalist No. 10, First Principles, Human Nature, James Madison, Latent
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First Principles: Wise Men Struggle For Liberty
It is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope and pride. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is … Continue reading
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Tagged Anguish, First Principles, Hope, Liberty, Patrick Henry, Pride, Salvation, Struggle, Truth
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ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 
First Principles: Republics Are Lost When Flattery Is Favored Over Truth
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, … Continue reading →