Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Every Government Degenerates When Trusted To the Rulers of the People Alone. The People Themselves, Therefore, Are Its Only Safe Depositories

“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories.” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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First Principles: He Therefore Is the Truest Friend To the Liberty of This Country Who Tries Most To Promote Its Virtue

“He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of this country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Truth Will Ultimately Prevail Where There Is Pains To Bring It To Light

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington

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First Principles: A Nation, Despicable By Its Weakness, Forfeits Even the Privilege of Being Neutral

“The rights of neutrality will only be respected when they are defended by an adequate power. A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral.” – Alexander Hamilton (1787)

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First Principles: When We Are Planning For Posterity, We Ought To Remember That Virtue Is Not Hereditary

“When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.” – Thomas Paine (1776)

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First Principles: Nothing Is More Certain Than That A General Profligacy and Corruption of Manners Make A People Ripe For Destruction

“Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners make a people ripe for destruction. A good form of government may hold the rotten materials together for some time, but beyond a certain pitch, even the … Continue reading

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First Principles: Man, Once Surrendering His Reason, Has No Remaining Guard Against Absurdities

“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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First Principles: Born In Other Countries, Yet Believing You Could Be Happy In This, Our Laws Acknowledge, As They Should Do, Your Right To Join Us In Society, Conforming…To Our Established Rules

“Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your right to join us in society, conforming, as I doubt not you will do, to our established rules.” – Thomas … 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. … How is it possible that Children can have any just Sense of the sacred Obligations of Morality or Religion if, from their earliest Infancy, they learn their Mothers … Continue reading

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First Principles: Do You Want To Know Who You Are? Don’t Ask. Act! Action Will Delineate and Define You

“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” – Thomas Jefferson

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