Alexander Hamilton Quotes

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything. – Alexander Hamilton

A well-instructed people alone can be permanently a free people. – Alexander Hamilton

Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. – Alexander Hamilton

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 or obscured by mortal power. – Alexander Hamilton

In framing a government, which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. – Alexander Hamilton

It’s not tyranny we desire; it’s a just, limited, federal government. – Alexander Hamilton

Power over a man’s subsistence is power over his will. – Alexander Hamilton

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

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. – Alexander Hamilton

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

My argument against vice and immorality stands on the interests of society as well as on the interests of religion. – Alexander Hamilton

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

The inquiry constantly is, what will please, not what will benefit the people. In such a government there can be nothing but temporary fits of enthusiasm, follies, and caprices. – Alexander Hamilton

To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted. – Alexander Hamilton

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

The Constitution shall never be construed… to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. – Alexander Hamilton

Man is a reasoning rather than a reasonable animal. – Alexander Hamilton

Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and calm pulse to exterminate his kind. He is the only animal that for sordid wages will march out, as the Hessians did in our Revolution, and as the boyish Prince Napoleon did in the Zulu war, and help to slaughter strangers of his own species who have done him no harm and with whom he has no quarrel. – Alexander Hamilton

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint. – Alexander Hamilton

No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles. – Alexander Hamilton

I will never cease to condemn the inconsiderate violence of which the militia and Corps of Cadets have been guilty. – Alexander Hamilton

It’s not the violence of the few that scares me, it’s the silence of the many. – Alexander Hamilton

A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing. – Alexander Hamilton

Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government. – Alexander Hamilton

I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man. – Alexander Hamilton

No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. – Alexander Hamilton

The federal government will not be truly important for the general happiness of the people until it is able to restrain and prevent the abuses of power. – Alexander Hamilton

The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create whatever the form of government, a real despotism. – Alexander Hamilton

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. – Alexander Hamilton

Give all power to the people and they will abuse it eventually. – Alexander Hamilton

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

A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. – Alexander Hamilton

Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to be conclusive and sacred. – Alexander Hamilton

The judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution. – Alexander Hamilton

Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. – Alexander Hamilton

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent. – Alexander Hamilton

Even useful truths should be announced with prudence. – Alexander Hamilton

To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people. – Alexander Hamilton

There can be no safer deposit for the powers of society than in the hands of the people themselves. – Alexander Hamilton

The inquiry constantly is what will please, not what will benefit the people. – Alexander Hamilton

Your people, sir, is nothing but a great beast! – Alexander Hamilton

I believe that Hamilton is a colossus to those who understand him, and even more to those who even almost understand him. – Alexander Hamilton

Anarchy is the worst of all situations, and the most important, – Alexander Hamilton

Every constitution for the government of society has an inherent tendency to kindle the flame of ambition. – Alexander Hamilton

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