Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Tis Folly In One Nation To Look For Disinterested Favors From Another

Posted on November 15, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Tis folly in one Nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its Independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such acceptance, it may place itself in the … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Acceptance, Calculate, Character, Condition, Disinterested Favor, Expect, First Principles, Folly, George Washington, Given Equivalents, Independence, Ingratitude, Nation, Nation To Nation, No Greater Error, Nominal Favors, Pay, Portion, Reproached | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Army…Is A Dangerous Instrument To Play With

Posted on November 14, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“The Army … is a dangerous instrument to play with.” -George Washington (1783)

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First Principles: Our Peculiar Security Is In the Possession of A Written Constitution. Let Us Not Make It A Blank Paper By Construction.

Posted on November 13, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to Wilson Nicholas, 1803

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Blank Paper, Constitution, Construction, First Principles, Peculiar Security, Possession, Thomas Jefferson, Written | Leave a comment

First Principles: The True Key For the Construction of Everything Doubtful In A Law Is the Intention of the Law-Makers

Posted on November 12, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“The true key for the construction of everything doubtful in a law is the intention of the law-makers. This is most safely gathered from the words, but may be sought also in extraneous circumstances provided they do not contradict the … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Construction, Contradict, Doubt, Express Words, Extraneous Circumstances, First Principles, Intention, Law, Law-Maker, Provide, Safe, Thomas Jefferson, True Key, Words | Leave a comment

First Principles: No Government, Any More Than An Individual, Will Long Be Respected Without Being Truly Respectable; Nor Be Truly Respectable, Without Possessing A Certain Portion of Order and Stability

Posted on November 11, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable; nor be truly respectable, without possessing a certain portion of order and stability.” – Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, Federalist No. 62, 1788

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Federalist No. 62, First Principles, Government, Individual, James Madison, Order, Portion, Possess, Respectable, Respected, Stability, True | Leave a comment

First Principles: An Honest Man Can Feel Not Pleasure In the Exercise of Power Over His Fellow Citizens

Posted on November 10, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson (1813)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Exercise of Power, Feel, Fellow Citizens, First Principles, Honest Man, Pleasure, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: Ambition Must Be Made To Counteract Ambition

Posted on November 9, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abuses of Government, Ambition, Constitutional, Control, Counteract, Devices, First Principles, Human Nature, Interest, James Madison, Mankind, Reflection | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Battle, Sir, Is Not To the Strong Alone; It Is To the Vigilant, the Active, the Brave

Posted on November 8, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” – Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Convention, 1775

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Active, Alone, Battle, Brave, First Principles, Patrick Henry, Strong, Vigilant | Leave a comment

First Principles: In Questions of Science, the Authority of A Thousand Is Not Worth the Humble Reasoning of A Single Individual

Posted on November 7, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.” – Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

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First Principles: The Natural Cure For an Ill-Administration, In A Popular or Representative Constitution, Is A Change of Men

Posted on November 6, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“The natural cure for an ill-administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men.” – Alexander Hamilton (1787)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Change, Constitution, First Principles, Ill-Administration, Men, Natural Cure, Popular, Representative | Leave a comment