Tag Archives: Government

First Principles: Society In Every State Is A Blessing, But, Government, Even In the Best State, Is But A Necessary Evil In Its Worst State An Intolerable One

“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.” – Thomas Paine

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First Principles: No Government, Any More Than An Individual, Will Long Be Respected Without Being Truly Respectable; Nor Be Truly Respectable, Without Possessing A Certain Portion of Order and Stability

“No government, any more than an individual, will long be respected without being truly respectable; nor be truly respectable, without possessing a certain portion of order and stability.” – Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, Federalist No. 62, 1788

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First Principles: The People Alone Have the Incontestable…Right to Institute Government; and To Reform, Alter, or Totally Change the Same, When Their Protection, Safety, Prosperity and Happiness Require It

“…(T)he people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.” – John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776

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First Principles: The Republican Is the Only Form of Government Which Is Not Eternally At Open Or Secret War With the Rights of Mankind

“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.” – Thomas Jefferson (1790)

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First Principles: The Freedom and Happiness of Man…(Are) the Sole Objects of All Legitimate Government

“The freedom and happiness of man…[are] the sole objects of all legitimate government.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thaddeus Kosciusko, 1810

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First Principles: The Spirit of Resistance to Government Is So Valuable On Certain Occasions, That I Wish It To Be Always Kept Alive

“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like … Continue reading

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First Principles: They Define A Republic To Be A Government of Laws, and Not of Men

“They define a republic to be a government of laws, and not of men.” – John Adams (1775) Learn more about the Founders’ intentions with respect to establishing the United States of America as a republic not a democracy here: … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Most Sacred of the Duties of a Government is To Do Equal and Impartial Justice To All Its Citizens

“[T]he most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)

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First Principles: The Instrument By Which It (Government) Must Act Is Either the Authority of the Laws or Force. If the First Is Destroyed, the Last Must Be Substituted

“The instrument by which it [government] must act are either the AUTHORITY of the laws or FORCE. If the first be destroyed, the last must be substituted; and where this becomes the ordinary instrument of government there is an end … Continue reading

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First Principles: If Men Were Angels, No Government Would Be Necessary

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great … Continue reading

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