Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson

First Principles: The Constitution Is Not Written On Blank Pages

Posted on November 13, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Our peculiar security is in the possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Wilson Nicholas, 1803 Every word in the Constitution either means something of particular intent or … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Constitution, Error, First Principles, Living Document, Rule of Law, Security, Standard, Stare Decisis, Strict Interpretation, Thomas Jefferson, Tradition | Leave a comment

First Principles: We Should Endeavor To Be Honest In All We Do

Posted on October 31, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“In our private pursuits it is a great advantage that every honest employment is deemed honorable.” —Thomas Jefferson (1795) It’s somewhat fitting that the witch hunt has thus far calumniated not in any finding of collusion but past crimes committed … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Endeavors, First Principles, Honesty, Integrity, Private Pursuits, Thomas Jefferson, Wisdom | 4 Comments

First Principles: Dependence Begets Subservience

Posted on October 29, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.” – Thomas Jefferson (1781) The entitlement programs of America have come to be taken for granted. And now, as we watch … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Ambition, Dependence, First Principles, Subservience, Thomas Jefferson, Tools, Venality, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Our Liberties Are Secured As A Gift From God, Not Government

Posted on October 24, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“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 →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Conviction, First Principles, God Given, Government, Justice, Liberty, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Judiciary Is Not Meant To Override the Other Branches

Posted on October 21, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“[T]he opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves, in their own sphere of action, but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Co-Equal Branch, Courts, Decision, Despotic, Executive, First Principles, Legislature, Role of the Judiciary, Rule of Law, Thomas Jefferson, Tryanny | Leave a comment

First Principles: Charitable Assistance Is Best Given Locally

Posted on October 19, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“It is a duty certainly to give our sparings to those who want; but to see also that they are faithfully distributed, and duly apportioned to the respective wants of those receivers. And why give through agents whom we know … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Accountability, Charity, Distant, Federal, First Principles, Local, Stewardship, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Bill of Rights Is To Prevent the Encroachment of the Federal Government On Private Rights

Posted on October 17, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“The invasion of private rights is chiefly to be apprehended, not from acts of Government contrary to the sense of its constituents, but from acts in which the Government is the mere instrument of the major number of the Constituents.” … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Bill of Rights, Encroachment, Federal Government, First Principles, History, James Madison, Local Government, The People, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Steady Character of Americans Is Our Anchor

Posted on October 14, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“The steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor; and notwithstanding the efforts of the papers to disseminate early discontents, I expect that a just, dispassionate and steady conduct, will at length rally to … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Anchor, Elbridge Gerry, First Principles, Harmony, Moderation, Stability, Steady, Temperance, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: Guns Don’t Kill; People Do

Posted on October 6, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“Evils which are not cured in one way will cure themselves in some other.” — Thomas Jefferson (1791) I’ve been looking for a quippable quote off and on all morning that would suffice to sum up the disgust I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged Assault Weapons, Authoritarian, Brutality, Criminal, Disarming, Evil, FBI, Gun Control, Guns, Legality, Mindset, Mortality Data, Murder Rates, Rights, Street Thug, Thomas Jefferson, Thought For the Day | 1 Comment

First Principles: Almost Everything Worthwhile Takes Time

Posted on September 11, 2017 by alohapromisesforever

“We know the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong. Do you not think an angel rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm?” —John Page (1776) shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed, … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Effort, First Principles, Governance, John Page, Preserverance, Success, Thomas Jefferson | Leave a comment