Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Care of Human Life and Happiness, and Not Their Destruction, Is the First and Only Legitimate Object of Good Government

“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson (1809)

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First Principles: The More Man Meditates Upon Good Thoughts, the Better Will Be His World and the World At Large

“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.” – Confucius

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First Principles: Justice Is the End of Government. It Is the End of Civil Society

“Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: It Is the Duty of All Nations To Acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God

“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor.” – George Washington (1789)

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First Principles: Still I Hope I Shall Always Possess Firmness and Virtue Enough To Maintain (What I Consider the Most Enviable of All Titles) the Character of An Honest Man

“Still I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain (what I consider the most enviable of all titles) the character of an honest man.” – George Washington to Alexander Hamilton (Thursday, August 28, 1788)

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First Principles: There Is No Good Government But What Is Republican. The True Idea of A Republic Is ‘An Empire of Laws, and Not Men

“There is no good government but what is republican. [T]he true idea of a republic is ‘an empire of laws, and not of men.’” – John Adams (1776)

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First Principles: Consider How the Wild Flowers Grow. They Do Not Labor Or Spin. Yet I Tell You, Not Even Solomon In All His Splendor Was Dressed Like One of These

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” – Luke 12:27 (NIV)

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First Principles: The Advancement and Diffusion of Knowledge Is the Only Guardian of True Liberty

“The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” – James Madison

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First Principles: You Cannot Help the Poor By Destroying the Rich. You Cannot Lift Up the Wage Earner By Pulling Down the Wage Payer

“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.” – Abraham Lincoln

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First Principles: Nothing Is More Certain Than That A General Profligacy and Corruption of Manners Make A People Ripe For Destruction

“Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners make a people ripe for destruction.” – John Witherspoon (1776)

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