If men were angels, no government would be necessary.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONIf men were angels, no government would be necessary.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONThe 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 HAMILTONThe rights of neutrality will only be respected, when they are defended by an adequate power. A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral.
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 HAMILTONIn 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 HAMILTONHappy will it be if our choice should be directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with the public good.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONTo all general purposes we have uniformly been one people each individual citizen everywhere enjoying the same national rights, privileges, and protection.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONUnless your government is respectable, foreigners will invade your rights; and to maintain tranquillity, it must be respectable – even to observe neutrality, you must have a strong government.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONA well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.
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 HAMILTONNobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONLet 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 HAMILTONThe art of reading is to skip judiciously.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONThe pains taken to preserve peace include a proportional responsibility that equal pains be taken to be prepared for war.
ALEXANDER HAMILTONDangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidden appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON