black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

Alexander Hamilton

The 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 HAMILTON

Force Government Law Liberty
In the general course of human nature, A power over a man’s subsistence amounts to a power over his will.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Human Man Nature Power Willing
Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Democracy Government Liberty Reality
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

Government Justice Man Passion Reason
Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Animal Government Man Passion Reason
The art of reading is to skip judiciously.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Art Reading
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 to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Believe Change Determination God Judgement People Right True Voice
Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Act Government People
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

Enemy Government People
A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Blessing Money Perspective
Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Deep Fall Justice Philosophy
For 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

Equality Mad Politics Religion Weapon
A 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 HAMILTON

Ambition Appearance Danger Government People Right
A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Country Danger Disagree Nation
The 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 HAMILTON

Power Respect Right Weakness
The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Best Hope People
Who talks most about freedom and equality? Is it not those who hold the bill of rights in one hand and a whip for affrighted slaves in the other?
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Equality Freedom Slave
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

Change Necessary Possible Reason
Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Government Ideas Law Power Punishment Word
Hard words are very rarely useful. Real firmness is good for every thing. Strut is good for nothing.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Goodness Word
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

Mad Politics Religious Weapon
Men are reasoning rather than reasonable animals.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Animal Man Reason
Have 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

Enough Evil Imperfection Promise Seen Weakness
I always feel how necessary you are to me. But when you are absent, I become still more sensible of it and look around in vain for that satisfaction which you alone can bestow.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Alone Feeling Myself Necessary Satisfaction
Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to be conclusive and sacred.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Experience Philosophy Truth
A 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 HAMILTON

Advice Body Independence Mindset Strong Weapon
The passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Goodness Passion Revolution

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Alexander Hamilton Quotes