Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: National Defense Is One of the Cardinal Duties of A Statesman

“National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.” – John Adams (1815)

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First Principles: The Most Sacred of the Duties of A Government (Is) To Do Equal and Impartial Justice To All Citizens

“The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson,  Note in Destutt de Tracy, “Political Economy,” (1816) — This statement comes down to the reasonable expectation of … Continue reading

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First Principles: A Wise Man Proportions His Belief To the Evidence

“A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence.” – David Hume, Section X of An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748) …… In Section X of An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Hume argues that the evidence for miracles needs to … Continue reading

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First Principles: It Is To Be Regretted That the Rich and Powerful Too Often Bend the Acts of Government To Their Own Selfish Purposes

“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.” – Andrew Jackson, in his Veto Message to Congress regarding the Bank of the United States (July 10, … Continue reading

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First Principles: It Is My Constant Anxiety and Prayer That I and This Nation Should Be On the Lord’s Side

“I am not at all concerned about that…. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”– Abraham Lincoln, cited in F.B. Carpenter’s Six Months At the White House , … Continue reading

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First Principles: We Must Not Let Our Rulers Load Us With Perpetual Debt

“I am not among those who fear the people. They, and not the rich, are our dependence for continued freedom. And, to preserve their independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.” – Thomas Jefferson, Letter … Continue reading

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First Principles: I Know Your Deeds, That You Are Neither Cold Nor Hot. I Wish You Were Either One Or the Other!

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” – Revelation 3:15 (NIV) — The Laodicean church was told that nothing escapes Jesus’s attention. Lukewarm faith has stern consequences. … Continue reading

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First Principles: Be Americans. Let There Be No Sectionalism…You Are All Dependent On One Another and Should Be One In Union

“Be Americans. Let there be no sectionalism, no North, South, East or West. You are all dependent on one another and should be one in union. In one word, be a nation. Be Americans, and be true to yourselves.” – … Continue reading

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First Principles: I’ve Always Felt That A Person’s Intelligence Is Directly Reflected By the Number of Conflicting Points of View He Can Entertain Simultaneously On the Same Topic

“I’ve always felt that a person’s intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting points of view he can entertain simultaneously on the same topic.” – Abigail Adams, “Letters of Mrs. Adams: The Wife of John Adams”, p.539 — … Continue reading

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First Principles: Liberty Will Not Long Survive the Total Extinction of Morals

“Liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals.” – Samuel Adams, in the record of the Second Continental Congress, April 30, 1776 — American sentiment is to be toward acting as docile slaves or standing up for the … Continue reading

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