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Tag Archives: First Principles
First Principles: The Constitution Is Not Written On Blank Pages
“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Wilson Nicholas, 1803 Every word in the Constitution either means something of particular intent or … Continue reading
First Principles: Neither the Constitution Nor Law Protects A Corrupt People
“[N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” –Samuel Adams (1749) How about that, the Founders called out the conditions of today more than we might … Continue reading
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Tagged Constitution, Corruption, First Principles, Laws, Samuel Adams, Wisdom, Wise
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First Principles: Value Our Veterans
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” – George … Continue reading
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Tagged Duty, First Principles, George Washington, Imperative, Justice, Service, Treament, Veterans, Veterans Day
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First Principles: The Right To Bear Arms Is Essential In the Preservation of Liberty
“Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into … Continue reading
First Principles: For A Government To Be Respected, It Must Be Respectable
“No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable.” — James Madison, in Federalist 62
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Tagged Federalist Paper No. 62, First Principles, Government, Individual, James Madison, Respectable, Respected
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First Principles: Guard Public Liberty Attentively
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.” –Patrick Henry, in a speech at the Virginia … Continue reading
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Tagged Bill of Rights, Constitution, First Principles, Force, Government, Patrick Henry, Public Liberty, Vigilance
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First Principles: Love Liberty Enough To Guard and Defend It
“God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.” – Daniel Webster, in Speech (3 June 1834); reported in Edward Everett, ed., The Works of Daniel Webster (1851), volume iv, page 47 … Continue reading
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Tagged Daniel Webster, Defend, Faithfulness, First Principles, God, Guard, History, Inalienable, Liberty, Love
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First Principles: The Accumulation of Power Into Few Hands Leads To Tyranny
“The accumulation of all powers … in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” —James Madison (1788) in Federalist Paper, No. 47 This … Continue reading
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Tagged Accumulation, Corruption, First Principles, Government, James Madison, Powers, The Federalist Papers, Tyranny
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First Principles: Promote the Well Being of Your Community
“I have always, from my earliest youth, rejoiced in the felicity of my fellow-men; and have ever considered it as the indispensable able duty of every member of society to promote, as far as in him lies, the prosperity of … Continue reading
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Tagged Community, Duty, Felecity, First Principles, Happiness, John Hancock, Mankind, Nation, Overcome, Prosperity, Rejoice, Society, Thrive, Well Being
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First Principles: An Energetic Executive Branch Is Good for the Country
“Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the … Continue reading
