Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Were We Directed From Washington When To Sow, and When To Reap, We Should Soon Want Bread

“Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.” – Thomas Jefferson (1821)

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

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. … Taxation follows that, and in its turn wretchedness and oppression.” – Thomas Jefferson, Letter … Continue reading

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

First Principles: Those Who Expect To Reap the Blessings of Freedom, Must, Like Men, Undergo the Fatigues of Supporting It

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” – Thomas Paine (1777)

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

First Principles: If Congress Can Do Whatever In Their Discretion Can Be Done By Money…the Government Is No Longer A Limited One

“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” – James … Continue reading

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

First Principles: To Cherish and Stimulate the Activity of the Human Mind…Is Not Among the Least Considerable of the Expedients, By Which the Wealth of A Nation May Be Promoted

“To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted.” -Alexander Hamilton (1791)

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

First Principles: They Define A Republic To Be A Government of Laws, and Not of Men

“They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men.” – John Adams (1775) Learn more about the Founders’ intentions with respect to establishing the United States of America as a republic not a democracy here: … Continue reading

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

First Principles: The Most Sacred of the Duties of a Government is To Do Equal and Impartial Justice To All Its Citizens

“[T]he most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)

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

First Principles: The Instrument By Which It (Government) Must Act Is Either the Authority of the Laws or Force. If the First Is Destroyed, the Last Must Be Substituted

“The instrument by which it [government] must act are either the AUTHORITY of the laws or FORCE. If the first be destroyed, the last must be substituted; and where this becomes the ordinary instrument of government there is an end … Continue reading

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

First Principles: They That Can Give Up Essential Liberty To Purchase A Little Temporary Safety, Deserve Neither Liberty Nor Safety

“They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin (1759)

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

First Principles: Democracy Will Soon Degenerate Into An Anarchy, Such An Anarchy That Every Man Will Do What is Right In His Own Own Eyes

“[D]emocracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these … Continue reading

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