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 HAMILTONAn avaricious man might be tempted to betray the interests of the state for the acquisition of wealth.
More Alexander Hamilton Quotes
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Nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
When avarice takes the lead in a state, it is commonly the forerunner of its fall.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
The art of reading is to skip judiciously.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
The passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
The pains taken to preserve peace include a proportional responsibility that equal pains be taken to be prepared for war.
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 -
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 -
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 -
Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to be conclusive and sacred.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
Nobody expects to trust his body overmuch after the age of fifty.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it might be in my power, by action rather than words, to convince you that I love you.
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 -
If the sword of oppression be permitted to lop off one limb without opposition, reiterated strokes will soon dismember the whole body.
ALEXANDER HAMILTON -
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