If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONIf men were angels, no government would be necessary.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONA nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONHard words are very rarely useful. Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONA strong body makes the mind strong, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONA dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people, than under the forbidding appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of Government.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONIf we must have an enemy at the head of government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONWhy has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONSafety 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 HAMILTONThere are approximately 1,010,300 words in the English language, but I could never string enough words together to properly express how much I want to hit you with a chair. (Alexander Hamilton, to Thomas Jefferson)
ALEXANDER HAMILTONThe government is frequently and aptly classed under two descriptions – a government of force, and a government of laws; the first is the definition of despotism- the last, of liberty.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONCaution and investigation are a necessary armor against error and imposition.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONAn avaricious man might be tempted to betray the interests of the state for the acquisition of wealth.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONNobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONIn 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 HAMILTONI have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONHave we not already seen enough of the fallacy and extravagance of those idle theories which have amused us with promises of an exemption from the imperfections, weaknesses and evils incident to society in every shape?
ALEXANDER HAMILTON