Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Truth Can Stand By Itself. Subject Opinion To Coercion: Whom Will You Make Your Inquisitors

“Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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First Principles: If the Public Are Bound To Yield Obedience To Laws To Which They Cannot Give Their Approbation, They Are Slaves To Those Who Make Such Laws and Enforce Them

“If the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” – Samuel Adams (1772)

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First Principles: Truly I Tell You, Among Those Born of Women There Has Not Risen Anyone Greater Than John the Baptist; Yet Whoever Is Least In the Kingdom of Heaven Is Greater Than He

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” – Matthew 11:11 (NIV)

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First Principles: The Great Leading Objects of the Federal Government…Are To Maintain Domestic Peace, and Provide For the Common Defense

“The great leading objects of the federal government … are to maintain domestic peace, and provide for the common defense.” – Alexander Hamilton (1788)

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First Principles: Our Constitution Was Made Only For A Moral and Religious People. It Is Wholly Inadequate To the Government of Any Other

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams

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First Principles: Measures Which Serve To Abridge the Free Competition of Foreign Articles, Have A Tendency To Occasion An Enhancement of Prices

“Measures which serve to abridge the free competition of foreign articles, have a tendency to occasion an enhancement of prices.” – Alexander Hamilton (1791)

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First Principles: It Is Better To Offer No Excuse Than A Bad One

“It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” – George Washington to his orphaned charge, Harriot (or Harriet Washington) Sunday, October 30, 1791

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First Principles: To Preserve the Republican Form and Principles of Our Constitution and Cleave To the Salutary Distribution of Powers… Are the Two Sheet Anchors of Our Union

“To preserve the republican form and principles of our Constitution and cleave to the salutary distribution of powers which [the Constitution] has established … are the two sheet anchors of our Union. If driven from either, we shall be in … Continue reading

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First Principles: Strive To Be the Greatest Man In Your Country, and You May Be Disappointed. Strive To Be the Best and You May Succeed

“Strive to be the greatest man in your country, and you may be disappointed. Strive to be the best and you may succeed: he may well win the race that runs by himself.” – Benjamin Franklin (1747)

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First Principles: Take My Yoke Upon You and Learn From Me, For I Am Gentle and Humble In Heart, and You Will Find Rest For Your Souls

 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:29-30

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