Tag Archives: Government

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

Posted on February 14, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“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 (1774)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Aim, Art, Credit, Duty, Fail, First Principles, Government, Honest, Mankind, Thomas Jefferson, Whole Art | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Essence of Government Is Power, Lodged As It Must In Human Hands, Will Ever Be Liable To Abuse

Posted on February 9, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” – James Madison (1829)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abuse, Essence, First Principles, Government, Human Hands, James Madison, Liable, Lodge, Must, Power | Leave a comment

The Geometry of Divine Form

Posted on January 20, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

The Geometry of Divine Formby Michael DoyleEveryone it seems makes their mistakesBut is is the what we do with the heartbreaksThat makes all of the most meaningful differenceA life well lived holds this with reverenceSuch is the same even of … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry and Poems | Tagged Actions, Adoration, Best Choice, Brave Enough, Cardinal Virtues, Change, Common, Constant Court, Corrupt, Courage, Days, Define, Democracy, Desire, Destruction, Difference, Divine Form, Divine Forms, Doing Onto Others, Everyone, Exemplification, Fatal Blindness, Footnote, Geometry, Government, Great Questions, Greedy, Heartbreaks, Heed, History, Humanity, Instruction, Justice, Life Well Lived, Listen, Living Perfection, Meaningful, Meant, Mistakes, Moderation, Pages, Pander, Philosopher-King, Plato, Poetry and Poems, Politics, Principled Voice, Purpose, Republican Ways, Reverence, Right, Satisfaction, Seeking Glory, Self-Afflicted, Self-Interest, Sound Principles, Studying, Teach, Thread, Time, Tomorrow, True, Tyranny, Wisdom, Wisest Course, Worst Slander, Writing, Written | Leave a comment

First Principles: There Is No Art Which One Government Sooner Learns of Another Than That of Draining Money From the Pockets of the People

Posted on January 8, 2022 by alohapromisesforever

“There is no art which one government sooner learns of another than that of draining money from the pockets of the people.” – Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776.

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Adam Smith, Art, Drain, First Principles, Government, Learn, Money, Pockets, The People, The Wealth of Nations | Leave a comment

First Principles: Religion and Virtue Are the Only Foundations, Not of Republicanism and All Free Government, But of Social Felicity Under All Government

Posted on December 26, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“[R]eligion and virtue are the only foundations, not of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all government and in all the combinations of human society.” –-John Adams

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Combination, First Principles, Foundations, Free Government, Government, Human Society, John Adams, Religion, Republicanism, Social Felicity, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Society In Every State Is A Blessing, But Government, Even In Its Best State, Is But A Necessary Evil

Posted on December 15, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Blessing, Common Sense, Country, First Principles, Government, Intolerable, Means, Misery, Necessary Evil, Reflect, Society, State, Suffer, Thomas Paine, Worst State | Leave a comment

First Principles: This I Hope Will Be the Age of Experiments In Government, and That Their Basis Will Be Founded In Principles of Honesty, Not of Mere Force

Posted on December 8, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“This I hope will be the age of experiments in government, and that their basis will be founded in principles of honesty, not of mere force.” – Thomas Jefferson (1796)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Age, Basis, Experiment, First Principles, Founded, Government, Honesty, Hope, Mere Force, Principles, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: I Can Scarcely Contemplate A Greater Calamity That Could Befall This Country, Than Be Loaded With A Debt Exceeding Their Ability Ever to Discharge

Posted on December 1, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“I can scarcely contemplate a greater calamity that could befall this country, than be loaded with a debt exceeding their ability ever to discharge. If this be a just remark, it is unwise and improvident to vest in the general … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Ability, Befall, Borrow, Calamity, Contemplate, Country, Debt, Discharge, Government, Improvident, Loaded, Power, Restriction, Robert Yates, Scarce, Thought For the Day, Unwise, Without Any Limitation | Leave a comment

First Principles: How Difficult It Has Been For Mankind… To Preserve Their Dearest Rights and Best Privileges, Impelled As It Were By An Irresistible Fate of Despotism

Posted on November 27, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“How prone all human institutions have been to decay; how subject the best-formed and most wisely organized governments have been to lose their check and totally dissolve; how difficult it has been for mankind, in all ages and countries, to … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Ages, Check, Countries, Decay, Despotism, Difficult, Dissolve, First Principles, Government, Human Institutions, Irresistible Fate, James Monroe, Mankind, Preserve, Privileges, Prone, Rights | Leave a comment

First Principles: Government Is Instituted To Protect Property of Every Sort

Posted on November 22, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Government is instituted to protect property of every sort; as well that which lies in the various rights of individuals, as that which the term particularly expresses. This being the end of government, that alone is a just government which … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged End of Government, Every Man, Express, First Principles, Government, Impartial, James Madison, Just Government, Own, Property, Protect, Rights of Individuals | Leave a comment