Quotes by Alexander Hamilton

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

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

Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things. (Alexander Hamilton)

Every man ought to be supposed a knave, and to have no other end, in all his actions, but private interest. By this interest we must govern him, and by means of it, make him cooperate to public good, notwithstanding his unsatiable avarice and ambition. (Alexander Hamilton)

I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man. (Alexander Hamilton)

I think the first duty of society is justice. (Alexander Hamilton)

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men the great difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place, oblige it to control itself. (Alexander Hamilton)

In the general course of human nature, A power over a mans subsistence amounts to a power over his will. (Alexander Hamilton)

In the usual progress of things, the necessities of a nation in every stage of its existence will be found at least equal to its resources. (Alexander Hamilton)

It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity. (Alexander Hamilton)