Top 25 Quotes by Alexander Hamilton of 385 - Page 2

It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people

It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity.

Alexander Hamilton

Character, Democracies Have, Government

Alexander Hamilton (1850). “The works of Alexander Hamilton; compris. his corresp. and his polit. and official writings, excl. of the federalist, civil and military. Ed. by John C. Hamilton”, p.440

A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired.

Alexander Hamilton

Men, Political, Abuse

Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.84

It is the Press which has corrupted our political morals - and it is to the Press we must look for the means of our political regeneration.

Alexander Hamilton

Mean, Political, Looks

Remember civil and religious liberty always go together: if the foundation of the one be sapped, the other will fall of course.

Alexander Hamilton

Religious, Fall, Liberty

Alexander Hamilton (1842). “The Official and Other Papers ...”, p.48

It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is to-day, can guess what it will be tomorrow.

Alexander Hamilton

Men, Law, People

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Quentin P. Taylor, John Jay (1998). “The Essential Federalist: A New Reading of the Federalist Papers”, p.79, Rowman & Littlefield

If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify.

Alexander Hamilton

Government, People, Use

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.144

No character, however upright, is a match for constantly reiterated attacks, however false.

Alexander Hamilton

Character, Human Condition

Alexander Hamilton (1797). “Observations on certain documents in "The history of the United States for the year 1796,"”, p.12

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.

Alexander Hamilton

Passion, Men, Justice

The Federalist no. 15 (1788)

I have carefully examined the evidences of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man.

Alexander Hamilton

Christian, Patriotic, Men

There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.

Alexander Hamilton

Country, Men, Noise

Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.159

Ambition without principle never was long under the guidance of good sense.

Alexander Hamilton

Ambition, Long, Principles

Alexander Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Correspondence [contin.] 1795-1804; 1777; 1791. Letters of H. G. 1789. Address to public creditors. 1790. Vindication of funding system. 1791”, p.423

The honor of a nation is its life. Deliberately to abandon it is to commit an act of political suicide.

Alexander Hamilton

Suicide, Political, Honor

Alexander Hamilton (1851). “Political essays [etc., 1792-1804] Contents. Index”, p.627

The states have authority to interpret the Constitution, enforce it, and protect the people from violations of it by the federal government In the first place, there is not a syllable in the plan under consideration which directly empowers the national courts to construe the laws according to the spirit of the Constitution, or which gives them any greater latitude in this respect than may be claimed by the courts of every State.

Alexander Hamilton

Law, Government, Giving

The laws of Congress are restricted to a certain sphere, and when they depart from this sphere, they are no longer supreme or binding.

Alexander Hamilton

Law, Spheres, Congress

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

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased.

Alexander Hamilton

Power, Rights, Hands

"The Farmer Refuted" (1775)

Americans rouse - be unanimous, be virtuous, be firm, exert your courage, trust in Heaven, and nobly defy the enemies both of God and man!

Alexander Hamilton

Men, Heaven, Enemy

Alexander Hamilton (1851). “The works of Alexander Hamilton: containing his correspondence, and his political and official writings, exclusive of the Federalist, civil and military”, p.676

I would die to preserve the law upon a solid foundation; but take away liberty, and the foundation is destroyed.

Alexander Hamilton

Law, Liberty, Foundation

Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.34

Hard words are very rarely useful. Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing.

Alexander Hamilton

Real, Firmness, Hard Words

Alexander Hamilton (1851). “Correspondence [contin.] 1795-1804; 1777; 1791. Letters of H.G. 1789. Address to public creditors. 1790. Vindication of funding system. 1791”, p.253

The law... dictated by God Himself is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this.

Alexander Hamilton

Country, Law, Obligation

Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.43

[H]owever weak our country may be, I hope we shall never sacrifice our liberties.

Alexander Hamilton

Country, Freedom, Sacrifice

Alexander Hamilton (1850). “The works of Alexander Hamilton; compris. his corresp. and his polit. and official writings, excl. of the federalist, civil and military. Ed. by John C. Hamilton”, p.427

We are attempting, by this Constitution, to abolish factions, and to unite all parties for the general welfare.

Alexander Hamilton

Party, Constitution, Welfare

Alexander Hamilton (1962). “Papers”

This process of election affords a moral certainty that the office of President will seldom fall to the lot of any many who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications.

Alexander Hamilton

Fall, Office, President

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1869). “The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States : a Collection of Essays”, p.511

The true principle of a republic is that the people should choose whom they please to govern them. Representation is imperfect, in proportion as the current of popular favor is checked. The great source of free government, popular election, should be perfectly pure, and the most unbounded liberty allowed.

Alexander Hamilton

Government, People, Liberty

Alexander Hamilton (1850). “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.444

If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy.

Alexander Hamilton

Democracy, Too Much, Monarchy

Alexander Hamilton (1850). “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.417

Learn to think continentally.

Alexander Hamilton

Education, Thinking, Political

Alexander Hamilton Quotes - Page 2

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