Tag Archives: The People

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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Short Form Poetry Workshop: Zejel Duel of Recitation

As is known, from time to time, I attend a long running short form poetry workshop. I went back there tonight and learned of a poetic form called the Zejel. What is a Zejel? • Spanish poetic form likely an … Continue reading

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Thought For the Day: I Feel Fairly Certain That My Hatred Harms Me More Than the People Whom I Hate

“I feel fairly certain that my hatred harms me more than the people whom I hate.” -Max Frisch, architect, playwright, and novelist (15 May 1911-1991)

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First Principles: Among the Natural Rights (of the People) Are There: First, A Right To Life, Secondly, To Liberty; Thirdly to Property

“Among the natural rights [of the people] are these: first, a right to life; secondly, to liberty; thirdly to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can.” – Samuel Adams (1772)

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First Principles: So Long As the People Do Not Care To Exercise Their Freedom, Those Who Wish to Tyrannize Will Do So

“So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and … Continue reading

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First Principles: Republics Are Created By the Virtue, Public Spirit, and Intelligence of the Citizens

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, … Continue reading

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First Principles: If We Can Prevent the Government From Wasting the Labors of the People, Under the Pretense of Taking Care of Them, They Must Become Happy

“If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretence of taking care of them, they must become happy.” – Thomas Jefferson (1802)

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Thought For the Day: Kings Had Always Been Involving and Impoverishing Their People In Wars, Pretending Generally, If Not Always, That the Good of the People Was the Object

“Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object.” – Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

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First Principles: Republics Are Created By the Virtue, Public Spirit, and Intelligence of the Citizens. They Fall, When the Wise Are Banished From the Public Councils

“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, … Continue reading

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First Principles: If Virtue and Knowledge Are Diffused Among the People, They Will Never Be Enslaved. This Will Be Their Great Security

“If Virtue & Knowledge are diffused among the People, they will never be enslav’d. This will be their great Security.” – Samuel Adams (1779)

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