The great leading objects of the federal government, in which revenue is concerned, are to maintain domestic peace, and provide for the common defense. Alexander Hamilton More Quotes by Alexander Hamilton More Quotes From Alexander Hamilton Has it not. . . invariably been found that momentary passions, and immediate interests, have a more active and imperious control over human conduct than general or remote considerations of policy, utility and justice? Alexander Hamilton human-nature passion justice A struggle for liberty is in itself respectable and glorious. . . . When conducted with magnanimity, justice and humanity, it ought to command the admiration of every friend to human nature. But if sullied by crimes and extravagancies, it loses its respectability. Alexander Hamilton humanity struggle justice The true principle of a republic is that the people should choose whom they please to govern them. Representation is imperfect, in proportion as the current of popular favor is checked. The great source of free government, popular election, should be perfectly pure, and the most unbounded liberty allowed. Alexander Hamilton liberty government people In this distribution of powers the wisdom of our constitution is manifested. It is the province and duty of the Executive to preserve to the Nation the blessings of peace. The Legislature alone can interrupt those blessings, by placing the Nation in a state of War. Alexander Hamilton distribution-of-power blessing war 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. Alexander Hamilton constitution diversity 4th-of-july 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. Alexander Hamilton inquiry government people Happy will it be for ourselves, and most honorable for human nature, if we have wisdom and virtue enough to set so glorious an example to mankind! Alexander Hamilton virtue human-nature example A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever may be its theory, must be, in practice, a bad government. Alexander Hamilton phrases government practice What plan for the regulation of the militia may be pursued by the national government is impossible to be foreseen...The project of disciplining all the militia of the United States is as futile as it would be injurious if it were capable of being carried into execution... Little more can reasonably be aimed at with the respect to the people at large than to have them properly armed and equipped ; and in order to see that this be not neglected, it will be necessary to assemble them once or twice in the course of a year. Alexander Hamilton respect government order Great Ambition, unchecked by principle, or the love of Glory, is an unruly Tyrant. Alexander Hamilton tyrants principles ambition Common interest may always be reckoned upon as the surest bond of sympathy. Alexander Hamilton human-nature common may Good constitutions are formed upon a comparison of the liberty of the individual with the strength of government: If the tone of either be too high, the other will be weakened too much. It is the happiest possible mode of conciliating these objects, to institute one branch peculiarly endowed with sensibility, another with knowledge and firmness. Through the opposition and mutual control of these bodies, the government will reach, in its regular operations, the perfect balance between liberty and power. Alexander Hamilton balance government perfect 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 government law two Experience is the oracle of truth; and where its responses are unequivocal, they ought to be conclusive and sacred. Alexander Hamilton unequivocal oracles sacred Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals for the most part governed by the impulse of passion. Alexander Hamilton passion animal men The genius of the people will ill brook the inquisitive and peremptory spirit of excise laws. Alexander Hamilton genius law people The representatives of the people, in a popular assembly, seem sometimes to fancy that they are the people themselves, and betray strong symptoms of impatience and disgust at the least sign of opposition from any other quarter; as if the exercise of its rights, by either the executive or judiciary, were a breach of their privilege and an outrage to their dignity. Alexander Hamilton strong rights exercise No person that has enjoyed the sweets of liberty can be insensible of its infinite value, or can reflect on its reverse without horror and detestation Alexander Hamilton horror liberty sweet Were it not that it might require too long a discussion, it would not be difficult to demonstrate that a large and well-organized republic can scarcely lose its liberty from any other cause than that of anarchy, to which a contempt of the laws is the high-road. Alexander Hamilton liberty law long It is far more rational to suppose that the courts were designed to be an intermediate body between the people and the legislature, in order, among other things, to keep the latter within the limits assigned to their authority. Alexander Hamilton body order people
