Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: It Is Necessary For Every American…To Endeavor To Stop the Dissemination of Principles…Destructive of the Cause For Which They Have Bled

“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

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

First Principles: How Difficult It Is For Mankind…To Preserve Their Dearest Rights and Best Privileges, Impelled As It Were By an Irresistible Fate of Despotism

“How difficult it has been for mankind, in all ages and countries, to preserve their dearest rights and best privileges, impelled as it were by an irresistible fate of despotism.” – James Monroe (1788)

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

First Principles: The Latent Causes of Faction Are Thus Sown In the Nature of Man

“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.” – James Madison (1787)

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

First Principles: I Never Considered A Difference of Opinion In Politics, In Religion, In Philosophy, As A Cause For Withdrawing From A Friend

“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” – Thomas Jefferson

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

First Principles: He Who Permits Himself To Tell A Lie Once, Finds It Much Easier To Do It A Second and A Third Time, Till At Length It Becomes Habitual

“There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual.” – … Continue reading

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

First Principles: It Must Be Agreed That Our Governments Have Much Less of Republicanism Than Ought To Have Been Expected

“If, then, the control of the people over the organs of their government be the measure of its republicanism, and I confess I know no other measure, it must be agreed that our governments have much less of republicanism than … Continue reading

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

First Principles: Without Freedom of Thought There Can Be No Such Thing As Wisdom; and No Such Thing As Public Liberty, Without Freedom of Speech

“Without Freedom of Thought there can be no such thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as Public Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.” – Benjamin Franklin (1722)

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

First Principles: There Is But One Straight Course, and That Is To Seek Truth and Pursue It Steadily

“There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.” – George Washington (1795)

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: Religion and Virtue Are the Only Foundations, Not of Republicanism and of All Free Government, but of Social Felicity Under All Government

“[R]eligion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in all the combinations of human society.” – John Adams (1811)

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