Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Power Directed Only By Human Wisdom and Benevolence Is Dangerous

Posted on March 13, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Power in any form … when directed only by human wisdom and benevolence is dangerous.” –John Adams, An Attempt to Land a Bishop in America, 1769 Someone once asked me here if I felt the Founding Fathers did not believe … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged An Attempt To Land A Bishop In America, Benevolence, Dangerous, First Principles, Government, Human Wisdom, John Adams, Power | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Good Government Is Wise and Fiscally Responsible To Its Citizens

Posted on March 12, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“A wise and frugal government … shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Bread, Earnings, First Principles, Frugal, Government, Industry, Labor, Restraint From Injury, Thomas Jefferson, Wise | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Good Government Supports Education and the Spread of Knowledge and Wisdom

Posted on March 11, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“A nation under a well regulated government, should permit none to remain uninstructed. It is monarchical and aristocratical government only that requires ignorance for its support.” – Thomas Paine, Rights of Man, 1792

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Aristrocratic, Education, First Principles, Good Governance, Ignorance, Nation, Rights of Man, Thomas Paine | Leave a comment

First Principles: Each Branch of Government Is Co-Equal In Interpreting the Constitution

Posted on March 10, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and has an equal right to decide for itself what is the meaning of the constitution in … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Branches, Consitution, Construction, Equal, First Principles, Independence, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Promotion of Trade Offers Stability

Posted on March 9, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Harmony, liberal intercourse with all Nations, are recommended by policy, humanity and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand: neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Commercial Policy, Equal, First Principles, George Washington, Harmony, Impartial, Nations, Stable, Trade | Leave a comment

First Principles: Democracy Degenerates Into Anarchy Without Subordination to Morality

Posted on March 8, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Democracy 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 →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Anarchy, Degenerates, Democracy, First Principles, John Adams, Liberty, Life, Morality, Property, Reputation, Security, Subordination, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Our Republic’s Most Sacred Duty Is An Inviolable Respect for the Constitution and Laws

Posted on March 7, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws – the first growing out of the last.” … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Constitution, Duty, First Principles, Laws, Republic, Respect, Sacred | Leave a comment

First Principles: Too Often Opponents Seek Advantage In Being Loud and Bitter

Posted on March 5, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“To judge from the conduct of the opposite parties, we shall be led to conclude that they will mutually hope to evince the justness of their opinions, and to increase the number of their converts by the loudness of the … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Bitterness, Evidence, First Principles, Justness, Loudness, Numbers, Observation, Opposing Parties, The Federalist Papers | Leave a comment

First Principles: Each Person Is Protected In the Right To Worship Per the Dictates of Their Conscience

Posted on March 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“[E]very man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.” – George Washington, letter to the … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Accountable, Citizen, Conscience, First Principles, Free Will, George Washington, God, Individual, Protected, Religious Perspective, Worship | Leave a comment

First Principles: No Wall of Words Can Withstand Boundless Ambition and Corrupted Morals

Posted on March 3, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“No compact among men … can be pronounced everlasting and inviolable, and if I may so express myself, that no wall of words, that no mound of parchment can be so formed as to stand against the sweeping torrent of … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Agreement, Ambition, Compact, Corruption, First Inaugural, First Principles, George Washington, Morals, Princples, Words | Leave a comment