Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: It Takes A Slightly Better Man To Acknowledge Instantly and Without Reservation That He Is in Error

“Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.” – Andrew Jackson

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First Principles: Is There No Virtue Among Us? If There Be Not, We Are In A Wretched Situation

“Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: I Ask Who Are the Militia? They Consist of the Whole People

“I ask, Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people.” – George Mason (1788)

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First Principles: It Is Not Honorable To Take Mere Legal Advantage When It Happens To Be Contrary To Justice

“It is not honorable to take mere legal advantage when it happens to be contrary to justice.” – Thomas Jefferson (1790)

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First Principles: Wherever the Real Power In A Government Lies, There Is A Danger of Oppression

“Wherever the real power in a Government lies, there is the danger of oppression.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: Though I Walk Through the Darkest Valley, I Will Fear No Evil

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I … Continue reading

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First Principles: Every Government Degenerates When Trusted To the Rulers of the People Alone. The People Themselves, Therefore Are Its Only Safe Depositories

“Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves, therefore, are its only safe depositories.” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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First Principles: The Whole Art of Government Consists In the Art of Being Honest. Only Aim To Do Your Duty, and Mankind Will Give You Credit Where You Fail

“The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.” – Thomas Jefferson (1775)

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First Principles: The Press Is Impotent When It Abandons Itself To Falsehood

“But the fact being once established, that the press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood, I leave to others to restore it to its strength, by recalling it within the pale of truth.” – Thomas Jefferson (1805)

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First Principles: Let Us Resolve To Be Masters, Not the Victims, of Our History, Controlling Our Own Destiny Without Giving Way To Blind Suspicions and Emotions

“Let us resolve to be masters, not the victims, of our history, controlling our own destiny without giving way to blind suspicions and emotions.” – John F. Kennedy

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