Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself and Your Country More Than Yourself

“Love your neighbor as yourself and your country more than yourself.” – Thomas Jefferson (1825)

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First Principles: This Balance Between the National and State Governments Ought To Be Dwelt On With Peculiar Attention, As It Is Of the Utmost Importance

“This balance between the National and State governments ought to be dwelt on with peculiar attention, as it is of the utmost importance. It forms a double security to the people. If one encroaches on their rights they will find … Continue reading

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First Principles: The First and Governing Maxim In the Interpretation of A Statute Is To Discover the Meaning of Those Who Made It

“The first and governing maxim in the interpretation of a statute is to discover the meaning of those who made it.” – James Wilson (1790)

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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)

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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)

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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

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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 

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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

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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

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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

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