Alexander Hamilton

Explore 31 quotes by Alexander Hamilton

We must bear in mind that we are not to confine our view to the present period, but to look forward to remote futurity. Constitutions of civil government are not to be framed upon a calculation of existing exigencies, but upon a combination of these with the probable exigencies of ages, according to the natural and tried course of human affairs.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 34

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Topic

Constitutional theory Politics

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 34 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 34: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation." New York Packet, 4 Jan. 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 34: Financial needs of the new government.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

We are now forming a republican government. Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.

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Topic

Setting up a government Democracy Safeguards of freedom Political theory

Speaker

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Debates of the Federal Convention

Medium

Speech

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. Debates of the Federal Convention. Constitutional Convention. 26 June 1787, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

That inflexible and uniform adherence to the rights of the Constitution, and of individuals, which we perceive to be indispensable in the courts of justice, can certainly not be expected from judges who hold their offices by a temporary commission.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 78

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Topic

Rule of law The judiciary

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 78 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 78: The Judiciary Department." The Federalist, A Collection of Essays." New York: J. and A. McLean, 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 78: Duration in office: good behavior. Why needed.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Wherever two or more persons are engaged in any common enterprise or pursuit, there is always danger of difference of opinion. If it be a public trust or office, in which they are clothed with equal dignity and authority, there is peculiar danger of personal emulation and even animosity.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 70

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Topic

Interpersonal conflict Political conflict Conflict Politics

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 70 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 70: The Executive Department Further Considered." New York Packet, 18 Mar. 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 70: Energy in the executive. First ingredient: Unity.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

The judiciary, on the contrary, has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of the society; and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 78

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Topic

The judiciary

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 78 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 78: The Judiciary Department." The Federalist, A Collection of Essays." New York: J. and A. McLean, 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 78: Duration in office: good behavior. Why needed.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

As the plan of the convention aims only at a partial union or consolidation, the State governments would clearly retain all the rights of sovereignty which they before had, and which were not, by that act, EXCLUSIVELY delegated to the United States.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 32

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Topic

Federalism American politics

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 32 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 32: The Same Subject Continued: Concerning the General Power of Taxation." Daily Advertiser, 3 Jan. 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 32: States will have concurrent power to tax.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of the people... The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government.

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Topic

The masses Elitism Political theory

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Speech on a Plan of Government

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "Speech on a Plan of Government." Constitutional Convention. 18 June 1787, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "Speech in the Constitutional Convention on a Plan of Government, June 18, 1787." Alexander Hamilton: Writings, edited by Joanne B. Freeman. Library of America, 2001.

Bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and, on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 84

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Topic

Bill of Rights Constitutional theory

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 84 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Statement Type

Bad predictions

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 84: Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered." The Federalist, A Collection of Essays." New York: J. and A. McLean, 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 84: Absence of Bill of Rights, liberty of press, etc.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.

Alexander Hamilton

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Topic

National debt

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Letters of Alexander Hamilton

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Prophecies and predictions

Language

English

Time

1781 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. Letter to Robert Morris. 30 Apr. 1781.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "From Alexander Hamilton toRobert Morris, [30 April 1781]." Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-02-02-1167.

Among the most formidable of the obstacles which the new Constitution will have to encounter may readily be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which may hazard a diminution of the power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold under the State establishments.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 1

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Topic

Entrenched interests Resistance to change Politics

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 1 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 1: General Introduction." Independent Journal, 27 Oct. 1787.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. I: Deliberation on a new constitution--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Little more can reasonably be aimed at, with 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

Federalist 29

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Topic

Militia Gun rights

Author

Alexander Hamilton

Source

Federalist 29 The Federalist Papers

Medium

Essay

Genre

Political literature

Language

English

Time

1788 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 29: Concerning the Militia." Daily Advertiser, 10 Jan. 1788.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. 29: National government must have control of state militia.--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.