Alexander Hamilton quotes

Born
January 11, 1755 or 1757 Charlestown, Nevis, British West Indies.

Died
July 12, 1804.

Occupation
Political Scientist, Government Official.

Alexander Hamilton was an American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution.

In politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.
– Alexander Hamilton

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

Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.
– Alexander Hamilton

The nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one.
– Alexander Hamilton

When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.
– 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

A promise must never be broken.
– Alexander Hamilton

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

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things.
– Alexander Hamilton

The honor of a nation is its life.
– Alexander Hamilton

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

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

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

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

In the usual progress of things, the necessities of a nation in every stage of its existence will be found at least equal to its resources.
– Alexander Hamilton

Let us recollect that peace or war will not always be left to our option; that however moderate or unambitious we may be, we cannot count upon the moderation, or hope to extinguish the ambition of others.
– Alexander Hamilton

You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility to steal into my affections without my consent.
– 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 expedient, fickleness, and folly.
– Alexander Hamilton

Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.
– 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

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

Nobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.
– Alexander Hamilton

Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates.
– Alexander Hamilton

To all general purposes we have uniformly been one people, each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection.
– Alexander Hamilton

Real firmness is good for anything; strut is good for nothing.
– Alexander Hamilton

I think the first duty of society is justice.
– Alexander Hamilton