The powers contained in a constitution...ought to be construed liberally in advancement of the public good. Alexander Hamilton More Quotes by Alexander Hamilton More Quotes From Alexander Hamilton There is one transcendant advantage belonging to the province of the State governments . . . -I mean the ordinary administration of criminal and civil justice. Alexander Hamilton governmentjusticemean By a steady adherence to the Union we may hope, erelong, to become the arbiter of Europe in America, and to be able to incline the balance of European competitions in this part of the world as our interest may dictate. Alexander Hamilton competitioneuropeamerica The desire of reward is one of the strongest incentives of human conduct; ... the best security for the fidelity of mankind is to make their interest coincide with their duty. Alexander Hamilton incentivesmotivationdesire In disquisitions of every kind there are certain primary truths, or first principles, upon which all subsequent reasoning must depend. Alexander Hamilton kindprinciplesfirsts The natural effect of low interest is to increase trade and industry; because undertakings of every kind can be prosecuted with greater advantage. Alexander Hamilton increasekindnatural 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. Alexander Hamilton ambitionmaywar To presume a want of motives for such contests . . . would be to forget that men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious. Alexander Hamilton ambitiouswould-bemen There can be no time, no state of things, in which Credit is not essential to a Nation. Alexander Hamilton creditessentialsstates 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. Alexander Hamilton punishmentgovernmentlaw A treaty cannot be made which alters the Constitution of the country, or which infringes and express exceptions to the power of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton constitutionmadecountry There can be no limitation of that authority which is to provide for the defense and protection of the community in any matter essential to the formation, direction, or support of the NATIONAL FORCES. Alexander Hamilton supportessentialscommunity Money is, with propriety, considered as the vital principle of the body politic; as that which sustains its life and motion, and enables it to perform its most essential functions. Alexander Hamilton essentialsbodyprinciples Those who have a tolerable knowledge of human nature will not stand in need of such lights. Alexander Hamilton public-opinionlightneeds CREDIT supposes specific and permanent funds for the punctual payment of interest, with a moral certainty of a final redemption of the principal. Alexander Hamilton redemptioncreditfinals A government, the constitution of which renders it unfit to be trusted with all the powers which a free people ought to delegate to any government, would be an unsafe and improper depositary of the NATIONAL INTERESTS. Alexander Hamilton governmentwould-bepeople If the Constitution is adopted (and it was) the Union will be in fact and in theory an association of States or a Confederacy. Alexander Hamilton unionsassociationwar It is astonishing that so simple a truth should ever have had an adversary; and it is one among a multitude of proofs, how apt a spirit of ill-informed jealousy, or of too great abstraction and refinement is to lead men astray from the plainest paths of reason and conviction. Alexander Hamilton simplepathmen The multitude . . . have not a sufficient stock of reason and knowledge to guide them. . . . It is not safe to trust to the virtue of any people. Alexander Hamilton virtuesafepeople It is in vain to hope to guard against events too mighty for human foresight or precaution, and it would be idle to object to a government because it could not perform impossibilities. Alexander Hamilton eventsgovernmentwould-be It is a singular capriciousness of the human mind, that after all the admonitions we have had from experience on this head, there should still be found men, who object to the new constitution for deviating from a principle which has been found the bane of the old. Alexander Hamilton principlesmindmen
