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Alexander Hamilton Quotes

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Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.

Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.

Alexander Hamilton
Giving

When a government betrays the people by amassing too much power and becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their original right of self-defense — to fight the government.

Alexander Hamilton
Fighting, Exercise, Government

People sometimes attribute my success to my genius; all the genius I know anything about is hard work.

Alexander Hamilton
Inspirational, Motivation, Hard Work

One great error is that we suppose mankind more honest than they are.

Alexander Hamilton
Honesty, Errors, Honest
"History of the Republic of the United States of America".

A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

Alexander Hamilton
Government, Law, Energy
Alexander Hamilton (1851). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Comprising His Correspondence, and His Political and Official Writings, Exclusive of the Federalist, Civil and Military. Published from the Original Manuscripts Deposited in the Department of State, by Order of the Joint Library Committee of Congress”, p.164

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

Alexander Hamilton
Voting, Politics, American Revolution
Alexander Hamilton, Donald R. Hickey, Connie D. Clark (2006). “Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder”, p.105, Rowman & Littlefield

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

Alexander Hamilton
Hero, Patriotic, Bravery
Alexander Hamilton, Donald R. Hickey, Connie D. Clark (2006). “Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder”, p.87, Rowman & Littlefield

The people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government and to reform, alter, or totally change the same when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.

Alexander Hamilton
Government, People, Safety
"‘Hamilton’ Vs. Trump: Free-speech Duels Go on From Broadway to L.A.: Guest Commentary" by Ed Rampell, www.dailynews.com. November 23, 2016.

Man is either governed by his own laws - freedom - or the laws of another - slavery. Are you willing to become slaves? Will you give up your freedom, your life and your property without a single struggle? No man has a right to rule over his fellow creatures.

Alexander Hamilton
Giving Up, Freedom, Struggle

I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.

Alexander Hamilton
Work, Men, Perfect
Alexander Hamilton (1831). “The Federalist on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788, with an Appendix Containing the Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius on the Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793”, p.435

Foreign influence is truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its influence.

Alexander Hamilton
Horse, Republic, Influence
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.427

The practice of arbitrary imprisonments have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.

Alexander Hamilton
Practice, Democracy, Age
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.418, Coventry House Publishing

We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is never found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.

Alexander Hamilton
Freedom, Real, Government
Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton (1932). “Jeffersonian principles and Hamiltonian principles: extracts from the writings of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton”

Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.

Alexander Hamilton
Lying, Science, Night

It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.

Alexander Hamilton
Patriotic, Government, Desire

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.

Alexander Hamilton
Men, Agency, Political
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1831). “The Federalist on the New Constitution”, p.350

The loss of liberty to a generous mind is worse than death.

Alexander Hamilton
Loss, Mind, Liberty

What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws.

Alexander Hamilton
Law, Republic, Sacred
American Daily Advertiser, August 28, 1794.

The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.

Alexander Hamilton
Gun, Rights, People
"The Federalist Papers". Book by Alexander Hamilton, essay No. 69, 1787 - 1788.

As riches increase and accumulate in few hands . . . the tendency of things will be to depart from the republican standard.

Alexander Hamilton
Hands, Political, Riches
Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton (1932). “Jeffersonian principles and Hamiltonian principles: extracts from the writings of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton”

A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.

Alexander Hamilton
Confidence, Mistake, Women

A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever may be its theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.

Alexander Hamilton
Government, Practice, Phrases
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2007). “The Federalist Papers”, p.534, Filiquarian Publishing, LLC.

If it were to be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws - the first growing out of the last . . . . A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

Alexander Hamilton
Law, Government, Answers
Alexander Hamilton, Morton J. Frisch (1985). “Selected writings and speeches of Alexander Hamilton”, Aei Pr

The natural cure for an ill-administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men.

Alexander Hamilton
Men, Administration, Constitution
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the new constitution, written in 1788, with an appendix, containing the letters of Pacificus and Helvidius on the proclamation of neutrality of 1793, also the original articles of confederation and the constitution of the United States”, p.94

A promise must never be broken.

Alexander Hamilton
Trust, Integrity, Commitment
Alexander Hamilton (1903). “Works”

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