Tag Archives: First Principles

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 (1773)

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First Principles: The Most Important Consequence of Marriage Is That the Husband and Wife Become In Law Only One Person

“The most important consequence of marriage is, that the husband and the wife become in law only one person… Upon this principle of union, almost all the other legal consequences of marriage depend. This principle, sublime and refined, deserves to … Continue reading

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First Principles: Be Courteous To All, But Intimate With Few and Let Those Few Be Well Tried Before You Give Them Your Confidence

“Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence; true friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks and adversity before it … 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: Facts Are Stubborn Things

“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” – John Adams (1770)

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First Principles: Before A Standing Army Can Rule, the People Must Be Disarmed

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are … Continue reading

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First Principles: God Who Gave Us Life Gave Us Liberty

“God who gave us life gave us Liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that … Continue reading

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First Principles: Keep Your Lives Free From the Love of Money and Be Content With What You Have, Because God Has Said, “Never Will I Leave You; Never Will I Forsake You

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5 (New International Version)

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First Principles: To Prevent Crimes Is the Noblest End and Aim of Criminal Jurisprudence

“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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First Principles: A Good Government Implies Two Things; First, Fidelity To the Objects of the Government; Secondly, A Knowledge of the Means By Which Those Objects Can Be Best Attained

“A good government implies two things; first, fidelity to the objects of the government; secondly, a knowledge of the means, by which those objects can be best attained.” – Joseph Story (1833)

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