Alexander Hamilton Quotes

A collection of quotes by Alexander Hamilton.

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) was one of America's Founding Fathers and a prominent political figure. Born in the British West Indies, Hamilton played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War and later became the first Secretary of the Treasury under President George Washington. Known for his strong advocacy of a strong central government, he co-wrote The Federalist Papers and played a pivotal role in establishing the United States' financial system. Hamilton's economic policies and beliefs continue to influence American governance even today. His life was cut short when he died in a duel with Aaron Burr.

Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the mo

Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.

Alexander Hamilton

A promise must never be broken.

A promise must never be broken.

Alexander Hamilton

Unless your government is respectable, foreigners will invad

Unless your government is respectable, foreigners will invade your rights; and to maintain tranquillity, it must be respectable - even to observe neutrality, you must have a strong government.

Alexander Hamilton

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for amon

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself and can never be erased.

Alexander Hamilton

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions the

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

I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.

I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.

Alexander Hamilton

Real firmness is good for anything strut is good for nothing

Real firmness is good for anything strut is good for nothing.

Alexander Hamilton

In the main it will be found that a power over a mans suppor

In the main it will be found that a power over a mans support salary is a power over his will.

Alexander Hamilton

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no age

Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.

Alexander Hamilton

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

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

Alexander Hamilton

Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passi

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

I think the first duty of society is justice.

I think the first duty of society is justice.

Alexander Hamilton

It is inherent in the nature of sovereignty not to be amenab

It is inherent in the nature of sovereignty not to be amenable to the suit of any individual without its consent. This is the general sense and the general practice of mankind; and the exemption, as one of the attributes of sovereignty, is now enjoyed by the government of every State in the Union. . . . The contracts between a nation and individuals are only binding on the conscience of the sovereign, and have no pretensions to a compulsory force. They confer no right of action, independent of the sovereign will. To...authorize suits against States for the debts they owe...could not be done without waging war against the contracting State..., a power which would involve such a consequence, would be altogether forced and unwarranted.

Alexander Hamilton

Little more can reasonably be aimed at, with respect to the

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

Alexander Hamilton

It's not tyranny we desire it's a just, limited, federal gov

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

Alexander Hamilton

The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God

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

Learn to think continentally.

Learn to think continentally.

Alexander Hamilton

In the general course of human nature, A power over a man's

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

Alexander Hamilton

The fundamental source of all your errors, sophisms, and fal

The fundamental source of all your errors, sophisms, and false reasonings, is a total ignorance of the natural rights of mankind. Were you once to become acquainted with these, you could never entertain a thought, that all men are not, by nature, entitled to a parity of privileges. You would be convinced, that natural liberty is a gift of the beneficent Creator, to the whole human race; and that civil liberty is founded in that; and cannot be wrested from any people, without the most manifest violation of justice. Civil liberty is only natural liberty, modified and secured by the sanctions of civil society. It is not a thing, in its own nature, precarious and dependent on human will and caprice; but it is conformable to the constitution of man, as well as necessary to the well-being of society.

Alexander Hamilton

A garden, you know, is a very usual refuge of a disappointed

A garden, you know, is a very usual refuge of a disappointed politician. Accordingly, I have purchased a few acres about nine miles from town, have built a house, and am cultivating a garden.

Alexander Hamilton