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I have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.

Alexander Hamilton

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 best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Best Hope People
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
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
An avaricious man might be tempted to betray the interests of the state for the acquisition of wealth.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Loyalty Man Rich
Happy it is when the interest which the government has in the preservation of its own power, coincides with a proper distribution of the public burthens, and tends to guard the least wealthy part of the community from oppression!
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Community Government Happiness Oppression Power
There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Act Brave Human Liberty Nature
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

Control Difficult Government Man
We must make the best of those ills which cannot be avoided.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Avoid Best Philosophy
Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Act Government People
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 art of reading is to skip judiciously.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Art Reading
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

Ambition Hope Peace War
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

Ambition Hope Option Ourselves Peace War
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
The kindred blood which flows in the veins of American citizens, the mingled blood which they have shed in defense of their sacred rights, consecrate their Union, and excite horror at the idea of their becoming aliens, rivals, enemies.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Citizenship Enemy Excitement Right

I have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.

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I have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.

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