Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: No Man Is Allowed To Be A Judge In His Own Cause, Because His Interest Would Certainly Bias His Judgment, and…Corrupt His Integrity

“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.” – James Madison (1787)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Resolve To Perform What You Ought. Perform Without Fail What You Resolve

“Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.” – Benjamin Franklin (1771)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Sacred Rights of Mankind Are Not To Be Rummage For, Among Old Parchments, Or Musty Records…They Are Written…By the Hand of the Divinity

“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Whoever Believes and Is Baptized Will Be Saved, But Whoever Does Not Believe Will Be Condemned

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:16 

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: We Have Salt In Our Blood, In Our Sweat, In Our Tears. We Are Tied To the Ocean.

“It is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Aim of Every Political Constitution Is…To Obtain For Rulers Men Who Possess Most Wisdom To Discern, and… To Pursue the Common Good

“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society; and in the next place, to … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: For Love of Country They Accepted Death, and Thus Resolved All Doubts, and Made Immortal Their Patriotism and Their Virtue

“For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” – James Garfield, at the Arlington National Cemetery

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Republics Are Created By the Virtue, Public Spirit, and Intelligence of the Citizens. They Fall, When the Wise Are Banished From the Public Councils

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Religion and Virtue Are the Only Foundations, Not Only of Republicanism and of All Free Government, But of Social Felicity Under All Governments

“Religion and Virtue are the only Foundations, not only of Republicanism and of all free Government, but of Social Felicity under all Governments and in all the Combinations of human Society.” – John Adams (1811)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Our Obligations To Our Country Never Cease But With Our Lives

“Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.” – John Adams

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment