Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: Marriage Is In Its Origin A Contract of Natural Law. It Is the Parent, and Not the Child of Society; the Source of Civility, and A Sort of Seminary of the Republic

“Marriage is … in its origin a contract of natural law. … It is the parent, and not the child of society; the source of civility and a sort of seminary of the republic.” – Justice Joseph Story (1833)

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First Principles: The Battle, Sir, Is Not To the Strong Alone; It Is To the Vigilant, the Active, the Brave

“The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” – Patrick Henry

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First Principles: There Is But One Straight Course, and That Is To Seek Truth and Pursue It Steadily

“There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.” —George Washington (1795)

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First Principles: One Single Object Will Merit the Endless Gratitude of the Society: That of Restraining the Judges From Usurping Legislation

“One single object … [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Livingston, 1825

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First Principles: No Government, Any More Than An Individual, Will Long Be Respected Without Being Truly Respectable

“No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable.” – James Madison (1788)

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First Principles: As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Person Sharpens Another

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27: 17

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First Principles: It Is Certainly True That A Popular Government Cannot Flourish Without Virtue In the People

“It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without virtue in the people.” – Richard Henry Lee, letter to Colonel Martin Pickett, 1786

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First Principles: When Men Are Employ’d They Are Best Contented

“When Men are employ’d they are best contented. For on the Days they work’d they were good-natur’d and chearful; and with the consciousness of having done a good Days work they spent the Evenings jollily; but on the idle Days … Continue reading

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First Principles: An Unlimited Power To Tax Involves, Necessarily, A Power To Destroy

“An unlimited power to tax involves, necessarily, a power to destroy; because there is a limit beyond which no institution and no property can bear taxation.” – John Marshall (1819)

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First Principles: An Unarmed Man May Be Attacked With Greater Confidence Than An Armed Man

“False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for … Continue reading

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