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Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson
First Principles: The Press Is Impotent When It Abandons Itself To Falsehood, I Leave It To Others To Restore It To Its Strength, By Recalling It Within the Pale of Truth
“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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Tagged Abandon, Falsehood, First Principles, Impotent, Leave, Pale of Truth, Press, Recall, Restore, Strength, Thomas Jefferson
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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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Tagged Bread, Directed, First Principles, Reap, Soon, Sow, Thomas Jefferson, Washington, We, Were
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First Principles: The Principle of the Constitution Is That of A Separation of Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary Functions, Except In Cases Specified
“The principle of the Constitution is that of a separation of legislative, Executive and Judiciary functions, except in cases specified. If this principle be not expressed in direct terms, it is clearly the spirit of the Constitution, and it ought … Continue reading
First Principles: Dependence Begets Subservience and Venality, Suffocates the Germ of Virtue, and Prepares Fit Tools For the Designs of Ambition
“Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.” – Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, Query 19, 1781
First Principles: To Take From One…Is To Violate Arbitrarily the First Principle of Association, the Guarantee To Everyone the Free Exercise of…Industry
“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate … Continue reading
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Tagged Acquired, Arbitarily, First Principles, Free Exercise, Fruits, Guarantee, Industry, Principle of Association, Skill, Spare, Take, Thomas Jefferson
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First Principles: It Is Error Alone That Needs the Support of Government. Truth Can Stand By Itself.
“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” —Thomas Jefferson (1781)
First Principles: Never Suppose That In Any Possible Situation, Or Under Any Circumstances, It Is Best For You To Do A Dishonorable Thing, However Slightly
“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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Tagged Appear, Circumstances, Contain, Derive, Dishonorable Thing, Earth, Fame, First Principles, Immoral Act, Life, Moment of Death, Science, Sublime Comforts, Thomas Jefferson, Virtue
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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
First Principles: Man, Once Surrendering His Reason, Has No Remaining Guard Against Absurdities the Most Monstrous
“Man, once surrendering his reason, has no remaining guard against absurdities the most monstrous, and like a ship without rudder, is the sport of every wind. With such persons, gullibility, which they call faith, takes the helm from the hand … Continue reading
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Tagged Absurdities, Faith, First Principles, Guard, Gullibility, Hand of Reason, Helm, Man, Mind, Monstrous, Reason, Rudder, Ship, Sport, Surrender, Thomas Jefferson, Wind, Wreck
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First Principles: 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
“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


