Quotes from Alexander Hamilton

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.

When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.

And it proves, in the last place, that liberty can have nothing to fear from the judiciary alone, but would have everything to fear from its union with either of the other departments.

The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.

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.

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.

Power over a man's subsistence is power over his will.

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.

As to religion a moderate stock will satisfy me. She must believe in god and hate a saint.

The Christian Constitutional Society, its object is first: The support of the Christian religion. Second: The support of the United States.

A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws.

Little more can reasonably be aimed at with respect to the people at large than to have them properly armed.

Those who have a tolerable knowledge of human nature will not stand in need of such lights.

The honor of a nation is its life. Deliberately to abandon it is to commit an act of political suicide.

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

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.

Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.

Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.

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

The constitution shall never be construed...to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.

A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.

The art of reading is to skip judiciously.

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