Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson

First Principles: It Is Not Honorable To Take Mere Legal Advantage When It Happens To Be Contrary To Justice

“It is not honorable to take mere legal advantage when it happens to be contrary to justice.” – Thomas Jefferson (1790)

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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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First Principles: The Whole Art of Government Consists In the Art of Being Honest. Only Aim To Do Your Duty, and Mankind Will Give You Credit Where You Fail

“The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.” – Thomas Jefferson (1775)

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First Principles: The Press Is Impotent When It Abandons Itself To Falsehood

“But the fact being once established, that the press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood, I leave to others to restore it to its strength, by recalling it within the pale of truth.” – Thomas Jefferson (1805)

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First Principles: Our Peculiar Security Is In the Possession of A Written Constitution. Let Us Not Make It A Blank Paper By Construction

“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” – Thomas Jefferson (1803)

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First Principles: Laws, To Be Just, Must Give A Reciprocation of Right; That, Without This, They Are Mere Arbitrary Rules of Conduct, Founded In Force

“We lay it down as a fundamental, that laws, to be just, must give a reciprocation of right; that, without this, they are mere arbitrary rules of conduct, founded in force, and not in conscience” – Thomas Jefferson, Notes on … Continue reading

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First Principles: Never Suppose That In Any Possible Situation, Or Under Any Circumstances, It Is Best For You To Do A Dishonorable Thing

“Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you … Continue reading

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First Principles: The Care of Human Life and Happiness, and Not Their Destruction, Is the First and Only Legitimate Object of Good Government

“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson (1809)

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First Principles: Only Aim To Do Your Duty, and Mankind Will Give You Credit Where You Fail

“It behooves you, therefore, to think and act for yourself and your people. 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 … Continue reading

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First Principles: God Who Gave Us Life Gave Us Liberty

“God who gave us life gave us Liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that … Continue reading

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