Category Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Great Leading Objects of the Federal Government…Are To Maintain Domestic Peace, and Provide For the Common Defense

“The great leading objects of the federal government … are to maintain domestic peace, and provide for the common defense.” – Alexander Hamilton (1788)

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First Principles: Our Constitution Was Made Only For A Moral and Religious People. It Is Wholly Inadequate To the Government of Any Other

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams

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First Principles: Measures Which Serve To Abridge the Free Competition of Foreign Articles, Have A Tendency To Occasion An Enhancement of Prices

“Measures which serve to abridge the free competition of foreign articles, have a tendency to occasion an enhancement of prices.” – Alexander Hamilton (1791)

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First Principles: It Is Better To Offer No Excuse Than A Bad One

“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” – George Washington to his orphaned charge, Harriot (or Harriet Washington) Sunday, October 30, 1791

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First Principles: To Preserve the Republican Form and Principles of Our Constitution and Cleave To the Salutary Distribution of Powers… Are the Two Sheet Anchors of Our Union

“To preserve the republican form and principles of our Constitution and cleave to the salutary distribution of powers which [the Constitution] has established … are the two sheet anchors of our Union. If driven from either, we shall be in … Continue reading

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First Principles: Strive To Be the Greatest Man In Your Country, and You May Be Disappointed. Strive To Be the Best and You May Succeed

“Strive to be the greatest man in your country, and you may be disappointed. Strive to be the best and you may succeed: he may well win the race that runs by himself.” – Benjamin Franklin (1747)

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First Principles: Take My Yoke Upon You and Learn From Me, For I Am Gentle and Humble In Heart, and You Will Find Rest For Your Souls

 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:29-30

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First Principles: The Care of Human Life and Happiness, and Not Their Destruction, Is the First and Only Legitimate Object of Good Government

“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson (1809)

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First Principles: The More Man Meditates Upon Good Thoughts, the Better Will Be His World and the World At Large

“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” – Confucius

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First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government. It Is the End of Civil Society

“Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” – James Madison (1788)

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