Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Falsehood of the Tongue Leads To That of the Heart, and In Time Depraves All Its Good Disposition

“(F)alsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good disposition.” – Thomas Jefferson (1785)

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First Principles: If Virtue and Knowledge Are Diffused Among the People, They Will Never Be Enslaved. This Will Be Their Great Security

“If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslav’d. This will be their great Security.” – Samuel Adams (1779)

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First Principles: The Cause of America Is In A Great Measure the Cause of All Mankind

“The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.” – Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776)

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First Principles: The Same Prudence Which In Private Life Would Forbid Our Paying Our Own Money For Unexplained Projects, Forbids It In the Dispensation of the Public Moneys

“The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public moneys.” – Thomas Jefferson (1808)

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First Principles: Do Not Conceive That Fine Clothes Make Fine Men, Any More Than Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds

“Do not conceive that fine Clothes make fine Men, any more than fine feathers make fine Birds.” —George Washington (1783)

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First Principles: We Are All Qualified, Entitled, and Morally Obligated To Evaluate the Conduct of Our Rulers

“Any single man must judge for himself whether circumstances warrant obedience or resistance to the commands of the civil magistrate; we are all qualified, entitled, and morally obliged to evaluate the conduct of our rulers.” – English philosopher John Locke … Continue reading

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First Principles: It Is the Manners and Spirit of A People Which Preserve A Republic In Vigor

“It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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First Principles: The Republican Is the Only Form of Government Which Is Not Eternally At Open or Secret War With the Rights of Mankind

“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.” – Thomas Jefferson (1790)

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First Principles: The Fundamental Source of All Your Errors, Sophisms, and False Reasonings Is A Total Ignorance of the Natural Rights of Mankind

“The fundamental source of all your errors, sophisms and false reasonings is a total ignorance of the natural rights of mankind. Were you once to become acquainted with these, you could never entertain a thought, that all men are not, … Continue reading

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First Principles: A Free Government, Which of All Others Is Far Most Preferable, Cannot Be Supported Without Virtue

“In a despotic government, the only principle by which the tyrant who is to move the whole machine means to regulate and manage the people is fear, by the servile dread of his power. But a free government, which of … Continue reading

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