Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson

First Principles: No Experiment Can Be More Interesting Than…That Man May Be Governed By Reason and Truth

“No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Great Principles of Right and Wrong Are Legible To Every Reader; To Pursue Them Requires Not the Aid of Many Counselors

“The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader; to pursue them requires not the aid of many counselors. The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, … Continue reading

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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

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First Principles: I Think All the World Would Gain By Setting Commerce At Perfect Liberty

“I think all the world would gain by setting commerce at perfect liberty.” – Thomas Jefferson (1785) The socialistic, over regulation of the economy has the stifling effect on economic recovery and often leads to higher inflationary rates as is … Continue reading

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First Principles: One Single Object Will Merit the Endless Gratitude of the Society: That of Restraining the Judges From Usurping Legislation

“One single object … [will merit] the endless gratitude of the society: that of restraining the judges from usurping legislation.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Livingston, 1825

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First Principles: An Unarmed Man May Be Attacked With Greater Confidence Than An Armed Man

“False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for … 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 Citizens

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

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First Principles: Were We Directed From Washington When To Sow, and When To Reap, We Should Soon Want Bread

“Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread.” – Thomas Jefferson (1821)

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First Principles: The Same Prudence Which In Private Life Would Forbid Our Paying Our Own Money For Unexplained Projects, Forbids It In the Dispensation of the Public Moneys

“The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of the public moneys.” – Thomas Jefferson (1808)

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First Principles: Legislators Invent Too Many Devices For Subdividing Property, Only Taking Care To Let Their Subdivisions Go Hand In Hand With The Natural Affections of the Human Mind

“Legislators invent too many devices for subdividing property, only taking care to let their subdivisions go hand in hand with the natural affections of the human mind.” – Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, 1785

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