Tag Archives: Thomas Jefferson

First Principles: We Lay It Down As Fundamental, That Laws, To be Just, Must Give A Reciprocation of Right; Without this, The Are Mere Arbitrary Rules of Conduct

“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, in Notes On … 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: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself and Your Country More Than Yourself

“Love your neighbor as yourself and your country more than yourself.” – Thomas Jefferson (1825)

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First Principles: The Republican Is the Only Form of Government Which Is Not Eternally At Open Or Secret War With the Rights of Mankind

“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.” – Thomas Jefferson (1790)

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First Principles: Would It Not Be Better To Simplify the System of Taxation Rather Than To Spread It Over Such A Variety of Subjects and Pass Through So Many New Hands

“Would it not be better to simplify the system of taxation rather than to spread it over such a variety of subjects and pass through so many new hands.” – Thomas Jefferson (1784)

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First Principles: When I Contemplate the Immense Advances In Science and Discoveries In the Arts Which Have Been Made With the Periods of My Life, I Look Forward With Confidence To Equal Advances

“When I contemplate the immense advances in science and discoveries in the arts which have been made within the period of my life, I look forward with confidence to equal advances by the present generation, and have no doubt they … Continue reading

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First Principles: 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?

“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)

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First Principles: From the Practice of the Purest Virtue, You May Be Assured You Will Derive the Most Sublime Comforts In Every Moment of Life, and In the Moment of Death

“Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.” ― Thomas Jefferson

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First Principles: We Must Not Let Our Rulers Load Us With Perpetual Debt

“We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)

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First Principles: The Constitution…Is A Mere Thing of Wax In the Hands of the Judiciary Which They May Twist and Shape Into Any Form They Please

“The Constitution … is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary which they may twist and shape into any form they please.” – Thomas Jefferson (1819) Why does it seem that those who wish to see … Continue reading

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