Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: To Prevent Crimes, Is the Noblest End and Aim of Criminal Jurisprudence. To Punish Them, Is One of the Means Necessary For the Accomplishment

” To prevent crimes, is the noblest end and aim of criminal jurisprudence. To punish them, is one of the means necessary for the accomplishment of this noble end and aim.” – James Wilson (1790)

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Thought For the Day: Tyranny Seldom Announces Itself….A Whole Government, Even A Democratically Elected One, May Be Tyrannical

“Tyranny seldom announces itself. … In fact, a tyranny may exist without an individual tyrant. A whole government, even a democratically elected one, may be tyrannical.” – Joseph Sobran (1946-2010)

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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)

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First Principles: I Place Economy Among the First and Most Important of Republican Virtues, and Public Debt As the Greatest of the Dangers To Be Feared

“I … place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)

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First Principles: Where There Is No Law, There Is No Liberty;…Nothing Deserved the Name of Law But That Which Is Certain and Universal In Its Operation Upon All

“Where there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all the members of the community.” – Benjamin Rush (1788) We see this … Continue reading

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First Principles: All Men Having Power Ought To Be Distrusted To A Certain Degree

“All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree.” – James Madison (1787)

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First Principles: There Are More Instances of the Abridgment of the Freedom of the People By Gradual and Silent Encroachments of Those In Power Than By Violent and Sudden Usurpations

“There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” – James Madison, speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

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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: Patriotism Is As Much A Virtue As Justice, and Is As Necessary For the Support of Societies As Natural Affection Is For the Support of Families

“Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.” – Benjamin Rush

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First Principles: Meditate On These Things

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on … Continue reading

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