Authors:
  1. Quotes
  2. Authors
  3. A
  4. Alexander Hamilton
  5. Constitution

Alexander Hamilton Quotes about Constitution

All Alexander Hamilton Quotes Abuse Affection Age Ambition American Revolution Army Authority Balance Character Choices Community Constitution quotes Country Democracy Desire Duty Education Effort Energy Evil Exercise Foreign Policy Freedom Genius Giving Hate Honor Horror House Human Nature Integrity Judging Justice Liberty Loss Mankind Observation Office Passion Politics Power Prejudice Progress Prosperity Purpose Revolution Right To Bear Arms Risk Running Sacrifice Safety Second Amendment Separation Violence Virtue Voting War Wealth Welfare
The natural cure for an ill-administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men.

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

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”

For my part, I sincerely esteem the Constitution, a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.

Alexander Hamilton
4th Of July, Diversity, Constitution

Civil liberty is only natural liberty, modified and secured by the sanctions of civil society. It is not a thing, in its own nature, precarious and dependent on human will and caprice; but it is conformable to the constitution of man, as well as necessary to the well-being of society.

Alexander Hamilton
Men, Liberty, Constitution
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.61

There is no position which depends on clearer principles than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid.

Alexander Hamilton
Principles, Void, Constitution
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2004). “The Federalist Papers”, p.556, Simon and Schuster

The powers contained in a constitution...ought to be construed liberally in advancement of the public good.

Alexander Hamilton
Advancement, Constitution, Ought

A treaty cannot be made which alters the Constitution of the country, or which infringes and express exceptions to the power of the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton
Country, Constitution, Made
Alexander Hamilton (1851). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Cabinet papers [contin.] 1794-1795. [Miscellanies, 1794-1795] Military papers. 1798-1800. Correspondence [contin.] 1789-1795”, p.121

Constitutions of civil government are not to be framed upon a calculation of existing exigencies, but upon a combination of these with the probable exigencies of ages, according to the natural and tried course of human affairs. Nothing, therefore, can be more fallacious than to infer the extent of any power, proper to be lodged in the national government, from an estimate of its immediate necessities.

Alexander Hamilton
Government, Age, Constitution
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in 1788”, p.147

[T]he present Constitution is the standard to which we are to cling. Under its banners, bona fide must we combat our political foes - rejecting all changes but through the channel itself provides for amendments.

Alexander Hamilton
Political, Constitution, Amendments

If the end be clearly comprehended within any of the specified powers, and if the measure have an obvious relation to that end, and is not forbidden by any particular provision of the Constitution, it may safely be deemed to come within the compass of the national authority.

Alexander Hamilton
May, Constitution, Compass
Opinion on the Constitutionality of the Bank, 23 Feb. 1791

Tyranny has perhaps oftener grown out of the assumptions of power, called for, on pressing exigencies, by a defective constitution, than out of the full exercise of the largest constitutional authorities.

Alexander Hamilton
Exercise, Constitution, Assumption
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1831). “The Federalist on the New Constitution”, p.98

You May Also Like: