In politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
The Federalist # 1
Quotations by:
Hamilton, Alexander
It has frequently been remarked that 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 by reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.
Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
The Federalist #15 (Dec 1787)
Man is very much a creature of habit.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
The Federalist #27 (Dec 1787)
Happy it is when the interest which the government has in the preservation of its own power, coincides with a proper distribution of the public burdens, and tends to guard the least wealthy part of the community from oppression!
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
The Federalist #36 (8 Jan 1788)
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.
When occasions present themselves, in which the interests of the people are at variance with their inclinations, it is the duty of the persons whom they have appointed to be the guardians of those interests, to withstand the temporary delusion, in order to give them time and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection. Instances might be cited in which a conduct of this kind has saved the people from very fatal consequences of their own mistakes, and has procured lasting monuments of their gratitude to the men who had courage and magnanimity enough to serve them at the peril of their displeasure.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
The Federalist #71 (18 Mar 1788)
Source essay
When occasions present themselves, in which the interests of the people are at variance with their inclinations, it is the duty of the persons whom they have appointed to be the guardians of those interests, to withstand the temporary delusion, in order to give them time and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
The Federalist #71 (18 Mar 1788)
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 (1757-1804) American statesman, author
Essay (1775-02-23), “The Farmer Refuted”
(Source)
The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of the people, and exciting their jealousies and apprehensions, to throw affairs into confusion, and bring on civil commotion. Tired at length of anarchy, or want of government, they may take shelter in the arms of monarchy for repose and security.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
Letter (1792-08-18) to George Washington, Enclosure: “Objections and Answers Respecting the Administration,” Objection 14
(Source)
If the government is in the hands of a few, they will tyrannize the many; if in the hands of the many, they will tyrannize over the few.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
Letter to Robert Morris (30 Apr 1781)
There can be no truer principle than this — that every individual of the community at large has an equal right to the protection of government.
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) American statesman, author
Speech, Constitutional Conventnion, Philadelphia (29 Jun 1787)