Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: I Know Not What Course Others May Take; But As For Me, Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give … Continue reading

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

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

“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 , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: It Is Impossible For the Man of Pious Reflection Not To Perceive In It A Finger of That Almighty Hand Which Has Been So Frequently and Signally Extended To Our Relief In the Critical Stages of the Revolution

“It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty Hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the Revolution“ – James … Continue reading

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

First Principles: There Is Not A More Important and Fundamental Principle In Legislation, Than That the Ways and Means Ought Always To Face the Public Engagements; That Our Appropriations Should Ever Go Hand In Hand With Our Promises

“There is not a more important and fundamental principle in legislation, than that the ways and means ought always to face the public engagements; that our appropriations should ever go hand in hand with our promises. – James Madison, 1790

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

First Principles: Nothing So Strongly Impels A Man To Regard the Interest of His Constituents, As the Certainty of Returning To the General Mass of the People, From When He Was Taken, Where He Must Participate In Their Burdens

“Nothing so strongly impels a man to regard the interest of his constituents, as the certainty of returning to the general mass of the people, from whence he was taken, where he must participate in their burdens.” – George Mason … Continue reading

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

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)

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

First Principles: America Is Another Name For Opportunity. Our Whole History Appears Like A Last Effort of Divine Providence In Behalf of the Human Race

“America is another name for opportunity. Our whole history appears like a last effort of divine Providence in behalf of the human race.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

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

First Principles: I Consider Trial by Jury As the Only Anchor Ever Yet Imagined By Man, By Which A Government Can Be Held To the Principles of Its Constitution

“I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.” – Thomas Jefferson

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

First Principles: I Cannot Undertake To Lay My Finger On That Article of the Constitution Which Granted A Right To Congress of Expending, On Objects of Benevolence, the Money of Their Constituents…”

“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents…” – James Madison

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

First Principles: The Legislative Department Is Everywhere Extending the Sphere of Its Activity and Drawing All Power Into Its Impetuous Vortex

“The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex.” – James Madison (1788)

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