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

Categorized in : People Government Liberty

To my utter astonishment I saw an airship descending over my cow lot. It was occupied by six of the strangest beings I ever saw. They were jabbering together, but we could not understand a word they said.

Alexander Hamilton

astonishment cows together

People sometimes attribute my success to my genius; all the genius I know anything about is hard work.

Alexander Hamilton

motivation hard-work inspirational

When a government betrays the people by amassing too much power and becoming tyrannical, the people have no choice but to exercise their original right of self-defense — to fight the government.

Alexander Hamilton

government fighting exercise

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

Alexander Hamilton

giving

One great error is that we suppose mankind more honest than they are.

Alexander Hamilton

honest errors honesty

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.

Alexander Hamilton

night science lying

The people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government and to reform, alter, or totally change the same when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.

Alexander Hamilton

safety government people

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

Alexander Hamilton

patriotic hero bravery

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

Alexander Hamilton

government energy law

Foreign influence is truly the Grecian horse to a republic. We cannot be too careful to exclude its influence.

Alexander Hamilton

republic horse influence

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

Alexander Hamilton

american-revolution voting politics

There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.

Alexander Hamilton

noise men country

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

agency political men

If it were to be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws - the first growing out of the last . . . . A sacred respect for the constitutional law is the vital principle, the sustaining energy of a free government.

Alexander Hamilton

government law answers

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

Alexander Hamilton

confidence women mistake

Every nation ought to have a right to provide for its own happiness.

Alexander Hamilton

foreign-policy policy ought

[H]owever weak our country may be, I hope we shall never sacrifice our liberties.

Alexander Hamilton

sacrifice freedom country

The President of the United States would be liable to be impeached, tried, and upon conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, removed from office; and would afterwards be liable to prosecution and punishment in the ordinary course of law. The person of the King of Great Britain is sacred and inviolable: There is no constitutional tribunal to which he is amenable, no punishment to which he can be subjected without involving the crisis of a national revolution.

Alexander Hamilton

punishment kings law

I have thought it my duty to exhibit things as they are, not as they ought to be.

Alexander Hamilton

exhibits ought duty

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

Alexander Hamilton

patriotic government desire