Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: 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: The Difference Between A Balanced Republic and Democracy Is Like That Between Order and Chaos

“Between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos.” – John Marshall    

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First Principles: Liberty Is One of the Most Precious Gifts Which Heaven Bestows On Mankind

“Liberty is one of the most precious gifts which heaven has bestowed on man; with it we cannot compare the treasures which the earth contains or the sea conceals; for liberty, as for honor, we can and ought to risk … Continue reading

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First Principles: Peace Cannot Be Achieved Through Violence, It Can Only Be Attained Through Understanding

“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson    

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First Principles: History Shows That of All Governments, Democracy Is the Most Unstable, Fluctuating and Short-Lived

“The experience of all former ages had shown that of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short-lived.” – John Quincy Adams    

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First Principles: Peace Is Better Than War, War Is Better Than Tribute

“It is a principle incorporated into the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute.” – James Madison (1816)      

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First Principles: If Truth Be Not Diffused, Error Will Be

“If truth be not diffused, error will be.” – Daniel Webster    

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First Principles A Bible, Newspaper and Good Schooling Are the Principal Supports of Virtue, Morality and Civil Liberty

“A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district–all studied and appreciated as they merit–are the principal support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty“ – Benjamin Franklin    

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First Principles: The Liberties of Our Nation Are Secured By the Conviction These Are the Gift of God

“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be … Continue reading

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First Principles: Religion, Morality and Knowledge Are Necessary To Good Government and the Happiness of Mankind

“Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” – Mananasseh Cutler, in Article III of the Northwest Ordinance    

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