Quotes from Alexander Hamilton

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.

It is the advertiser who provides the paper for the subscriber. It is not to be disputed, that the publisher of a newspaper in this country, without a very exhaustive advertising support, would receive less reward for his labor than the humblest mechanic.

There is a contagion in example which few men have sufficient force of mind to resist.

There can be no profit in the making or selling of things to be destroyed in war. Men may think that they have such profit, but in the end the profit will turn out to be a loss.

The passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.

Take mankind as they are, and what are they governed by? Their passions.

Self-preservation is the first principle of our nature.

In the general course of human nature, A power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will.

There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.

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

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.

Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all the power to the few, they will oppress the many.

When a government betrays the people by amassing too much power and becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their original right of self-defense — to fight the government.

A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired.

In the main it will be found that a power over a man's support [salary] is a power over his will.

For my part, I sincerely esteem the Constitution, a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.

The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.

The powers contained in a constitution...ought to be construed liberally in advancement of the public good.

It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.

We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is never found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.

Every individual of the community at large has an equal right to the protection of government.

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.

That there may happen cases in which the national government may be necessitated to resort to force, cannot be denied.