Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: War Is Not the Best Engine For Us To Resort To; Nature Has Given Us One In Our Commerce

“War is not the best engine for us to resort to; nature has given us one in our commerce, which if properly managed, will be a better instrument for obliging the interested nations of Europe to treat us with justice.” … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Observe Good Faith and Justice Toward All Nations. Cultivate Peace and Harmony With All

“Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.” – George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Equal and Exact Justice To All Men, of Whatever Persuasion, Religious Or Political

“Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever persuasion, religious or political.” – Thomas Jefferson (1801)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: 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 Consists In the Art of Being Honest

“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 consists in the art of being honest.” – Thomas Jefferson (1775)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Best and Only Safe Road To Honor, Glory, and True Dignity Is Justice

“The best and only safe road to honor, glory, and true dignity is justice.” – George Washington (1779)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Language Is the Armory of the Human Mind, and At Once Contains the Trophies of Its Past and the Weapons of Its Future Conquests

“Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of its past and the weapons of its future conquests.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Trust In the Lord With All Your Heart and Lean Not On Your Own Understanding In All Your Ways Submit to Him, and He Will Make Your Paths Straight

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Labor To Keep Alive In Your Breast That Little Spark of Celestial Fire Called Conscience

“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.” – George Washington (1748)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Give of Every Good and Perfect Gift Has Called Upon Us To Mimic God’s Giving, By Grace, Through Faith, and This Is Not of Ourselves

“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic Gods giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.” – St. Nicholas of Myra

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: I Cannot Undertake To Lay My Finger On That Article of the Constitution Which Granted A Right To Congress of Expending, On Objects of Benevolence, the Money of Their Constituents

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.” – James Madison

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment