Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: A Popular Government, Without Popular Information, Or the Means of Acquiring It, Is But A Prologue to A Farce Or A Tragedy; Or, Perhaps Both

“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, … Continue reading

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First Principles: Honor, Justice, and Humanity, Forbid Us Tamely To Surrender That Freedom Which We Received From Our Gallant Ancestors

“Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to surrender that freedom which we received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity have a right to receive from us. We cannot endure the infamy and guilt of resigning succeeding … Continue reading

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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)

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First Principles: Our Obligations To Our Country Never Cease But With Our Lives

“Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.” – John Adams (1808)

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First Principles: I Think All the World Would Gain By Setting Commerce At Perfect Liberty

“I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at perfect liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson (1785)

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First Principles: Society In Every State Is A Blessing, But Government, Even In Its Best State, Is But A Necessary Evil

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, … Continue reading

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First Principles: Republics Are Created By the Virtue, Public Spirit, and Intelligence of the Citizens

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, … Continue reading

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First Principles: What Is Morally Wrong Can Never Be Advantageous, Even When It Enables You To Make Some Gain You Believe To Be To Your Advantage

“What is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your advantage. The mere act of believing that some wrongful course of action constitutes an advantage is … Continue reading

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First Principles: Law and Liberty Cannot Rationally Become the Objects of Our Love, Unless They First Become the Objects of Our Knowledge

“Law and liberty cannot rationally become the objects of our love, unless they first become the objects of our knowledge.” – -James Wilson, Of the Study of the Law in the United States, 1790

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First Principles: It Is the Duty of All Nations To Acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, To Obey His Will, To Be Grateful For His Benefits, and Humbly To Implore His Protection and Favors

“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors.” – George Washington (1789)

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