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Tag Archives: First Principles
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
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Tagged Act, Alexander Hamilton, Authority, Destroy, End, First Principles, Force, Government, Instrument, Laws, Liberty, Ordinary Instrument, Substitute
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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)
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Tagged Benjamin Franklin, Deserve, Essential, First Principles, Give Up, Liberty, Purchase, Safety, Temporary, They
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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
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Tagged An Essay on Man's Lust For Power, Anarchy, Beauty, Capricious Will, Cruelty, Degenerate, Democracy, Every Man, First Principles, Intellectual Abilities, John Adams, Liberty, Life, Moral Virtues, One, Own Eyes, Powers, Property, Reputation, Science, Secure, Very Few, Wanton Pleasures, Wealth, Wit
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First Principles: The Battle, Sir, Is Not the Strong Alone; It Is To the Vigilant, the Active, the Brave
“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
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Tagged Active, Alone, Battle, Brave, First Principles, Patrick Henry, Strong, Vigilant, Virginia Convention
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First Principles: If Men Were Angels, No Government Would Be Necessary
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great … Continue reading
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Tagged Administer, Angels, Control, Difficulty, Enable, External, First Principles, Frame, Governed, Government, Internal, James Madison, Men, Necessary, Oblige
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First Principles: The Natural Progress of Things Is For Liberty To Yield and Government To Gain Ground
“The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to E. Carrington, 1788
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Tagged First Principles, Gain Ground, Government, Liberty, Natural, Progress, Thomas Jefferson, Yield
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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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Tagged Course, First Principles, George Washington, One, Pursue, Seek, Steady, Straight, Truth
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First Principles: One Single Object…[Will Merit] the Endless Gratitude of the Society: That of Restraining the Judge From Usurping Legislation
“One single object … [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.” – Thomas Jefferson (1825)
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Tagged First Principles, Gratitude, Judge, Legislation, Merit, Restrain, Single Object, Society, Thomas Jefferson
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First Principles: Man, Once Surrendering His Reason, Has No Remaining Guard Against Absurdities the Most Monstrous
“Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand … Continue reading
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Tagged Absurdities, Faith, First Principles, Guard, Gullibility, Hand of Reason, Helm, Mankind, Mind, Persons, Reason, Rudder, Ship, Sport, Surrender, Thomas Jefferson, Wind, Wreck
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First Principles: Liberty Cannot Be Preserved Without A General Knowledge Among the People
“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right, from the frame of their nature, to knowledge, as their great Creator, who does nothing in vain, has given them understandings, and a desire to … Continue reading
