Tag Archives: James Madison

First Principles: Laws Should Be Few; Fixed and Easy To Understand

Posted on October 26, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws … undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Clarity, Clear, First Principles, Fixed, James Madison, Law, Rule of Action, The People | Leave a comment

First Principles: Racism Has No Proper Place Except An Oppressive Error To Be Learned About From History

Posted on October 16, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“We have seen the mere distinction of color made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man.” – James Madison (1787)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Color, Distinction, Dominion, Enlightenment, Exercise, First Principles, James Madison, Man Over Man, Oppression, Racism | Leave a comment

First Principles: Division Is Naturally Sown Among Mankind

Posted on October 11, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man.” – James Madison, Federalist No. 10 (1787)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Cause, Faction, First Pinciples, Humanity's Nature, James Madison, Latent, Sown, The Federalist Papers | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Aim of Every Constitution Should Be To Obtain Governance By the Wise and Virtuous

Posted on October 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society.” – James Madison (1788) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Aim, Common Good, Constitution, Discern, First Principles, Governance, James Madison, Pursuit, Society, Virtue, Wisdom | Leave a comment

First Principles: Power’s Encroaching Nature Must Be Restrained

Posted on September 25, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“It will not be denied that power is of an encroaching nature and that it ought to be effectually restrained from passing the limits assigned to it.” – James Madison, in Federalist 48

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Encroach, First Priinciples, James Madison, Limits, Nature, Pass, Power, Proscription, Restraint, The Federalist Papers | Leave a comment

First Principles: Around the World, Liberty Is Granted By Power; In America Liberty Grants Charters of Power

Posted on September 23, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“In Europe, charters of liberty have been granted by power. America has set the example … of charters of power granted by liberty. This revolution in the practice of the world, may, with an honest praise, be pronounced the most … Continue reading →

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First Principles: If Mankind Were Angels, There Would Be No Need For Government

Posted on August 23, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“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.” – James Madison

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Angels, Control, Federalist Papers, First Principles, Governance, Government, James Madison, Mankind, Necessity | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Necessity of Any Government Is A Misfortune

Posted on July 24, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“It has been said that all Government is an evil. It would be more proper to say that the necessity of any Government is a misfortune.” – James Madison, 1833

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abuse, Essence, Evil, First Principles, Government, Human Hands, James Madison, Liable, Misfortune, Necessity, Power | Leave a comment

First Principles: Those Lacking Private Morality Will Lack Public Virtue

Posted on July 19, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If individuals be not influenced by moral principles; it is in vain to look for public virtue; it is, therefore, the duty of legislators to enforce, both by precept and example, the utility, as well as the necessity of a … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Cohesion, Distributive Justice, First Principles, Indviduals, James Madison, Legislative, Moral Principles, Public Virtue, Society | Leave a comment

First Principles: Freedom Is More Usually Taken Through Gradual and Silent Encroachments

Posted on July 11, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.” – James Madison, speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788 … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Abridgment, Encroachments, First Principles, Freedom, Gradualism, James Madison, People, Power, Silence, Usurpations | Leave a comment