Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Passion Never Fails to Wrest the Scepter From Reason

“In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the sceptre from reason.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: The Public Cannot Be Too Curious Concerning the Characters of Public Men

“The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.” – Samuel Adams (1775)

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First Principles: The Constitution Is Not Subject To… Fluctuations. It Is To Have A Fixed, Uniform, Permanent Construction.

“Temporary delusions, prejudices, excitements, and objects have irresistible influence in mere questions of policy. And the policy of one age may ill suit the wishes or the policy of another. The constitution is not subject to such fluctuations. It is … Continue reading →

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First Principles: The Foundation of National Morality Must Be Laid In Private Families

“The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families.” – John Adams (1778)

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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)

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First Principles: There Is A Certain Enthusiasm In Liberty; That Makes Human Nature Rise Above Itself, In Acts of Bravery and Heroism

“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” – Alexander Hamilton, The Farmer Refuted, 1775

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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)

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First Principles: It Is the Madness of Folly, To Expect Mercy From Those Who Have Refused To Do Justice

“It is the madness of folly, to expect mercy from those who have refused to do justice; and even mercy, where conquest is the object, is only a trick of war; the cunning of the fox is as murderous as … Continue reading →

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

“How prone all human institutions have been to decay; how subject the best-formed and most wisely organized governments have been to lose their check and totally dissolve; how difficult it has been for mankind, in all ages and countries, to … Continue reading →

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First Principles: To Model Our Political System Upon Speculations of Lasting Tranquility, Is To Calculate On the Weaker Springs of the Human Character

“To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character.” – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 34, 1788

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