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 That there may happen cases in which the national government may be necessitated to resort to force, cannot be denied. Alexander Hamilton force government may Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation. Alexander Hamilton court law letters Effective resistance to usurpers is possible only provided the citizens understand their rights and are disposed to defend them. Alexander Hamilton usurpers citizens rights The deliberative sense of the community should govern. Alexander Hamilton community should When you assemble from your several counties in the Legislature, were every member to be guided only by the apparent interest of his county, government would be impracticable. There must be a perpetual accomodation and sacrifice of local advantage to general expediency. Alexander Hamilton federalism sacrifice government Man is a reasoning rather than a reasonable animal. Alexander Hamilton humanity animal men Self-preservation is the first principle of our nature. Alexander Hamilton survival principles self The law... dictated by God Himself is, of course, superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at all times. No human laws are of any validity if contrary to this. Alexander Hamilton obligation law country . . . [The Judicial Branch] may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments. Alexander Hamilton arms branches may I expect we shall be told, that the Militia of the country is its natural bulwark, and would be at all times equal to the national defence...The facts, which from our own experience forbid a reliance of this kind, are too recent to permit us to be the dupes of such a suggestion. Alexander Hamilton suggestions country people There is something so far-fetched and so extravagant in the idea of danger to liberty from the militia that one is at a loss whether to treat it with gravity or with raillery; whether to consider it as a mere trial of skill, like the paradoxes of rhetoricians; as a disingenuous artifice to instil prejudices at any price; or as the serious. Alexander Hamilton skills loss ideas The instrument by which it [government] must act are either the AUTHORITY of the laws or FORCE. If the first be destroyed, the last must be substituted; and where this becomes the ordinary instrument of government there is an end to liberty! Alexander Hamilton liberty government law The Achaeans soon experienced, as often happens, that a victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master. Alexander Hamilton allies powerful names It is of the nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority. Alexander Hamilton increase authority war Wise politicians will be cautious about fettering the government with restrictions that cannot be observed, because they know that every break of the fundamental laws, though dictated by necessity, impairs that sacred reverence which ought to be maintained in the breast of rulers towards the constitution of a country. Alexander Hamilton government wise country There is no part of the administration of government that requires extensive information and a thorough knowledge of the principles of political economy, so much as the business of taxation. The man who understands those principles best will be least likely to resort to oppressive expedients, or sacrifice any particular class of citizens to the procurement of revenue. It might be demonstrated that the most productive system of finance will always be the least burdensome. Alexander Hamilton thorough-knowledge sacrifice men Unless your government is respectable, foreigners will invade your rights; and to maintain tranquillity you must be respectable; even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government. Alexander Hamilton government strong rights 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 garden usual house Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known and less fixed? Alexander Hamilton law action littles The Spirit of Enterprise, which characterizes the commercial part of America, has left no occasion of displaying itself unimproved. It is not at all probable that this unbridled spirit would pay much respect to those regulations of trade by which particular States might endeavor to secure exclusive benefits to their own citizens. Alexander Hamilton benefits citizens america
