Tag Archives: First Principles

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: A Morsel of Genuine History Is A Thing So Rare As To Be Always Valuable

“A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable.” – Thomas Jefferson (1817)      

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First Principles: Energy In the Executive Is A Leading Character In the Definition of Good Government

“Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.” – Alexander Hamilton (1788)      

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First Principles: Laws Are Made For Men of Ordinary Understanding and Should…Be Construed By the Ordinary Rules of Common Sense

“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which may make anything mean everything or nothing at … Continue reading

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First Principles: My Rule Is … To Go Straight Forward In Doing What Appears To Me Right At the Time, Leaving the Consequences With Providence

“My rule, in which I have always found satisfaction, is, never to turn aside in public affairs through views of private interest; but to go straight forward in doing what appears to me right at the time, leaving the consequences … Continue reading

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First Principles: Falsehood of the Tongue Leads To That of the Heart and In Time Depraves All Its Good Disposition

“It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it … 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. … In vain are schools, academies, and universities instituted, if loose principles and licentious habits are impressed upon children in their earliest years.” – John Adams (1778)     … Continue reading

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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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First Principles: Public Sentiment Is Everything. With Public Sentiment, Nothing Can Fail; Without It, Nothing Can Succeed

“Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”  – Abraham Lincoln      

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First Principles: History By Apprising Citizens of the Past Will Enable Them To Judge of the Future

“History by apprising [citizens] of the past will enable them to judge of the future; it will avail them of the experience of other times and other nations; it will qualify them as judges of the actions and designs of … Continue reading

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