Top 25 Quotes by Alexander Hamilton of 385 - Page 9

The prosecution [of impeachments], will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. The subjects of its jurisdiction are

The prosecution [of impeachments], will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust, and they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself.

Alexander Hamilton

Party, Passion, Men

The reasonableness of the agency of the national courts in cases in which the state tribunals cannot be supposed to be impartial, speaks for itself. No man ought certainly to be a judge in his own cause, or in any cause in respect to which he has the least interest or bias.

Alexander Hamilton

Men, Agency, Judging

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2009). “The Federalist”, p.525, Harvard University Press

All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of the people. The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government.

Alexander Hamilton

Government, Class, People

Said on June 19, 1787. "The Records Of The Federal Convention Of 1787". Book edited by Max Farrand. Volume I, p. 299, 1937.

There can be no time, no state of things, in which Credit is not essential to a Nation.

Alexander Hamilton

Essentials, Credit, States

United States. Department of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton (1828). “Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, Prepared in Obedience to the Act of the 10th May, 1800: ... to which are Prefixed, the Reports of Alexander Hamilton, on Public Credit, on a National Bank, on Manufactures, and on the Establishment of a Mint ... Printed by Order of the Senate of the United States”, p.198

Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience.

Alexander Hamilton

Government, Law, Punishment

The Federalist no. 15 (1788)

To presume a want of motives for such contests . . . would be to forget that men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious.

Alexander Hamilton

Men, Ambitious, Would Be

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2004). “The Federalist Papers”, p.30, Simon and Schuster

By multiplying the means of gratification, by promoting the introduction and circulation of the precious metals, those darling objects of human avarice and enterprise, it serves to vivify and invigorate the channels of industry, and to make them flow with greater activity and copiousness. The assiduous merchant, the laborious husbandman, the active mechanic, and the industrious manufacturer,-all orders of men, look forward with eager expectation and growing alacrity to this pleasing reward of their toils.

Alexander Hamilton

Mean, Men, Order

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.58, Coventry House Publishing

The awful discretion, which a court of impeachments must necessarily have, to doom to honor or to infamy the most confidential and the most distinguished characters of the community, forbids the commitment of the trust to a small number of persons.

Alexander Hamilton

Character, Commitment, Small Numbers

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2003). “The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus”, p.319, Cambridge University Press

The desire of reward is one of the strongest incentives of human conduct; ... the best security for the fidelity of mankind is to make their interest coincide with their duty.

Alexander Hamilton

Motivation, Desire, Incentives

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2015). “The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution”, p.355, Coventry House Publishing

Take mankind in general, they are vicious-their passions may be operated upon.

Alexander Hamilton

Passion, May, Human Nature

Alexander Hamilton (1962). “Jan.1787-May 1788”

The great leading objects of the federal government, in which revenue is concerned, are to maintain domestic peace, and provide for the common defense.

Alexander Hamilton

Government, Defense, Conservative

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.456

This [a state militia system] appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist.

Alexander Hamilton

Army, Second Amendment, Right To Bear Arms

John Church Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton (1860). “History of the Republic of the United States of America: As Traced in the Writings of Alexander Hamilton and of His Contemporaries”, p.140

The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right.

Alexander Hamilton

Voice, People, Judging

Alexander Hamilton (1962). “Jan.1787-May 1788”

The changes in the human condition are uncertain and frequent. Many, on whom fortune has bestowed her favours, may trace their family to a more unprosperous station; and many who are now in obscurity, may look back upon the affluence and exalted rank of their ancestors.

Alexander Hamilton

Affluence, Favour, Obscurity

Alexander Hamilton, Donald R. Hickey, Connie D. Clark (2006). “Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder”, p.142, Rowman & Littlefield

Let experience, the least fallible guide of human opinion, be appealed to for an answer to these inquiries.

Alexander Hamilton

Public Opinion, Inquiry, Answers

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Quentin P. Taylor, John Jay (1998). “The Essential Federalist: A New Reading of the Federalist Papers”, p.56, Rowman & Littlefield

When occasions present themselves, in which the interests of the people are at variance with their inclinations, it is the duty of the persons whom they have appointed to be the guardians of those interests, to withstand the temporary delusion, in order to give them time and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection.

Alexander Hamilton

Reflection, Opportunity, Order

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2003). “The Federalist: With Letters of Brutus”, p.349, Cambridge University Press

Necessity, especially in politics, often occasions false hopes, false reasonings, and a system of measures, correspondingly erroneous.

Alexander Hamilton

Human Nature, False Hope, Occasions

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2007). “The Federalist Papers”, p.257, Filiquarian Publishing, LLC.

Establish that a Government may decline a provision for its debts, though able to make it, and you overthrow all public morality, you unhinge all the principles that must preserve the limits of free constitutions.

Alexander Hamilton

Government, Principles, Debt

Alexander Hamilton (1973). “Papers”

The same state of the passions which fits the multitude, who have not a sufficient stock of reason and knowledge to guide them, for opposition to tyranny and oppression, very naturally leads them to a contempt and disregard of all authority.

Alexander Hamilton

Passion, Human Nature, Fit

Alexander Hamilton, Donald R. Hickey, Connie D. Clark (2006). “Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder”, p.100, Rowman & Littlefield

It is impossible to read the history of the petty republics of Greece and Italy without feeling sensations of horror and disgust at the distractions with which they were continually agitated, and at the rapid succession of revolutions by which they were kept in a state of perpetual vibration between the extremes of tyranny and anarchy . . . great improvement . . . were either not known at all, or imperfectly known to the ancients.

Alexander Hamilton

Education, Feelings, Republic

"The 100 best nonfiction books: No 81 - The Federalist Papers by 'Publius' (1788)" by Robert McCrum, www.theguardian.com. August 21, 2017.

The deliberative sense of the community should govern.

Alexander Hamilton

Community, Should

Let Americans disdain to be the instruments of European greatness! Let the thirteen States, bound together in a strict and indissoluble Union, concur in erecting one great American system, superior to the control of all transatlantic force or influence, and able to dictate the terms of the connection between the old and the new world!

Alexander Hamilton

Greatness, Together, Connections

The Federalist no. 11 (1788)

Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known and less fixed?

Alexander Hamilton

Law, Littles, Action

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

The President, and government, will only control the militia when a part of them is in the actual service of the federal government, else, they are independent and not under the command of the president or the government. The states would control the militia, only when called out into the service of the state, and then the governor would be commander in chief where enumerated in the respective state constitution.

Alexander Hamilton

Independent, Government, President

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

I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do?

Alexander Hamilton

Rights, Done, Bills

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2016). “The Federalist Papers and the Constitution of the United States: The Principles of the American Government”, p.459, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

Alexander Hamilton Quotes - Page 9

You May Also Like: