Tag Archives: The People

First Principles: The Evils We Experience Flow From the Excess of Democracy. The People Do Not Want Virtue, But Are the Dupes of Pretended Patriots

“The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots.” —Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: Until We Can Reestablish A Condition Under Which the Earnings of the People Can Be Kept By the People, We are Bound To Suffer…Curtailment of Our Liberty

“I want the people of America to be able to work less for the government and more for themselves. I want them to have the rewards of their own industry. This is the chief meaning of freedom. Until we can … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: All the Children Are Trained Up To This Kind of Knowledge: They Are Accustomed From Their Earliest Years To Read the Holy Scriptures

 “Among the customs which are universal among the people, in all parts of the state, one that seems worthy of remark, is, the attention that is paid to the education of children. The aim of the parent, is not so … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: If A Nation Expects To Be Ignorant – and Free – In A State of Civilization, It Expects What Never Was and Never Will Be

“If a nation expects to be ignorant — and free — in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty & property … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Poem for Patriots Day 2023

A Poem For Patriots Day 2023by Michael DoyleIn the heart of every patriot rests a songIn our love of country, under God, as we belongThe foundations are strong and pillars are highAs long as Old Glory ripples across the skyOther … Continue reading

Posted in Poetry and Poems | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: It Is Necessary For Every American, With Becoming Energy To Endeavor To Stop the Dissemination of Principles Evidently Destructive of the Cause For Which They Have Bled

“It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which they have bled. It must be the combined virtue of the rulers and of the people … Continue reading

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in First Principles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First Principles: The People Are Not To Be Disarmed of Their Weapons. They Are Left In Full Possession of Them.

“The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them.” – Zacharia Johnson (1788)

Posted in First Principles, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: When A Government Takes Over People’s Economic Life It Becomes Absolute, and When It Has Become Absolute It Destroys…the Meaning of the People It Governs

“When a government takes over a people’s economic life it becomes absolute, and when it has become absolute it destroys the arts, the minds, the liberties and the meaning of the people it governs.” – Maxwell Anderson (1888-1959)

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment