It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 1

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More information about this quote

Topic

American founding Self-government 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

Occupation

Founding Father Politician

From

United States

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.

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A quote by Alexander Hamilton about the American founding: “It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country…”
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A quote by Alexander Hamilton about the American founding: “It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Alexander Hamilton

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.

Alexander Hamilton

New-York Gazetteer

More information about this quote
Topic
Natural law

Author

Alexander Hamilton
Source
The Farmer Refuted New-York Gazetteer
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1775 1770s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "The Farmer Refuted." New-York Gazetteer. New York: James Rivington, 23 Feb. 1775.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "The Farmer Refuted &c., [23 February] 1775." Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-01-02-0057.

Another quote from the 1780s

It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary.

James Madison

Federalist 51

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Read Federalist No. 51 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Political theory Politics Government Human nature

Author

James Madison
Source
Federalist 51 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1788 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Madison, James [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 51, The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments." New York Packet, 8 Feb. 1788.

Current Citation

Madison, James. "No. 51: How to maintain: make the parts check each other. Also, a federal system divides power further.--Madison (or Hamilton)." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Another quote about Politics

Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.

Winston Churchill

More information about this quote
Topic
Democracy Government Politics
Speaker
Winston Churchill
Medium
Speech
Language
English
Time
1947 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Churchill, Winston. Address in the House of Commons. House of Commons meeting. 11 Nov. 1947, The Palace of Westminster, London, England, UK.