Tag Archives: Virtue

First Principles: Be Aware of the Jealousies That Too Often Frame the Depiction of Political Adversaries

Posted on June 1, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be, that there is not sufficient virtue among men for self-government; and that nothing less than … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Carticatures, Chains of Despotism, Federalist Papers, First Principles, Human Character, Inference, James Madison, Political Jealousy, Restraint, Self Government, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Patriotism Is As Much A Virtue As Justice

Posted on May 3, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.” – Benjamin Rush (1773)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Benjamin Rush, Civic Duty, Family, First Principles, Justice, Natural Affection, Patriotism, Society, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Aim of Constitutions Is To Obtain Leaders Who Pursue the Common Good of Society

Posted on March 14, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The aim of every political constitution is, or ought to be, first to obtain for rulers men who possess most wisdom to discern, and most virtue to pursue, the common good of the society.” – James Madison (1788) … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Common Good, Discernment, First Principles, Goal, Government, James Madison, Leaders, Political Constitution, Society, Virtue, Wisdom | Leave a comment

First Principles: Democracy Degenerates Into Anarchy Without Subordination to Morality

Posted on March 8, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Anarchy, Degenerates, Democracy, First Principles, John Adams, Liberty, Life, Morality, Property, Reputation, Security, Subordination, Virtue | Leave a comment

Thought For the Day: All Great People Eradicate Hypocrisy From Their Hearts

Posted on March 4, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The first virtue of all really great men is that they are sincere. They eradicate hypocrisy from their hearts.” – Anatole France

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged Anatole France, Eradication, Great, Hypocrisy, Persons, Sincerity, Thought For the Day, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: A Nation Should Strive For Wisdom and Virtue In Its Example

Posted on February 26, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“Happy will it be for ourselves, and most honorable for human nature, if we have wisdom and virtue enough to set so glorious an example to mankind!” – Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 36, 1788

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Example, First Principles, Happiness, Honor, Human Nature, The Federalist Papers, Virtue, Wisdom | Leave a comment

First Principles: Virtue Is the Foundation of A Free Constitution

Posted on February 3, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue.” – John Adams (1776) A person seems to keep wanting me to say something more than the founders of our republic said. The choice posed to me is am I … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Constitution, First Principles, Foundation, Freedom, John Adams, Private Virtue, Public Virtue, Purity, Republic, Virtue | Leave a comment

First Principles: Diffusion of Knowledge and Virtue Secures Our Liberty

Posted on January 27, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security.” – Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 1779

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Diffusion, First Principles, Freedom, James Warren, Knowledge, Samuel Adams, Security, The People, Virtue | 5 Comments

First Principles: There Is An Indissoluble Union Between Doing Right and Gain

Posted on January 10, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

“[T]here exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness; between duty and advantage; between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity.” — … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Advantage, Duty, First Inaugural Address, First Principles, Gains, George Washington, Happiness, Honesty, Natural Law, Nature, Virtue | Leave a comment

Time Spent With the Harvard Classics – Cicero – On Friendship

Posted on January 3, 2018 by alohapromisesforever

Cicero was born on January 3, 106 B.C. The Roman politician and attorney Marcus Tullius Cicero was born on January 3, 106 BC and passed away on December 7, 43 BC. Coming from a wealthy family of the Roman … Continue reading →

Posted in Thought For the Day | Tagged Cicero, Consul, Culture, Enlightenment, Equestrian Order, Greek Philosophy, Harvard Classics, Humanism, Mark Antony, On Friendship, Oration, Petrach, Renaissance, Republic, Repulican, Treatise, United States of America, Virtue | Leave a comment