Alexander Hamilton on The Federalist Papers
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“The novelty of the undertaking immediately strikes us.”
“Plunder and devastation ever march in the train of irregulars.”
“A feeble executive implies a feeble execution of the government.”
“The interest of all would, in this respect at least, be the security of all.”
“The means to be employed, must be proportioned to the extent of the mischief.”
“Caution and investigation are a necessary armour against error and imposition.”
“When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.”
“There is a contagion in example, which few men have sufficient force of mind to resist.”
“The science of politics, however, like most other sciences, has received great improvement.”
“And while an unbounded field for cabal and intrigue lies open, all idea of responsibility is lost.”
“There are men who, under any circumstances, will have the courage to do their duty at every hazard.”
“What answer shall we give to those who would persuade us, that things so unlike resemble each other?”
“An avaricious man might be tempted to betray the interests of the state for the acquisition of wealth.”
“The natural cure for an ill administration, in a popular or representative constitution, is a change of men.”
“The constitutional possibility of the thing, without an equivalent for the risk, is an unanswerable objection.”
“It is evident that this could not have been the intention, and that it will not bear a construction of the kind.”
“The business of corruption, when it is to embrace so considerable a number of men, requires time, as well as means.”
“The truth is, that the general GENIUS of a government is that can be substantially relied upon for permanent effects.”
“That there ought to be one court of supreme and final jurisdiction, is a proposition which is not likely to be contested.”
“We might defy the little arts of little politicians to control, or vary, the irresistible and unchangeable course of nature.”
“No man ought certainly to be a judge in his own cause, or in any cause, in respect to which he has the least interest or bias.”
“War, like most other things, is a science to be acquired and perfected by diligence, by perseverance, by time, and by practice.”
“His avarice might be a guard upon his avarice. Add to this, that the same man might be vain or ambitious as well as avaricious.”
“One of the weak sides of republics, among their numerous advantages, is, that they afford too easy an inlet to foreign corruption.”
“To render an army unnecessary, will be a more certain method of preventing its existence, than a thousand prohibitions upon paper.”
“Necessity, especially in politics, often occasions false hopes, false reasonings, and a system of measures correspondently erroneous.”
“Next to permanency in office, nothing can contribute more to the independence of the judges, than a fixed provision for their support.”
“The sole and undivided responsibility of one man, will naturally beget a livelier sense of duty, and a more exact regard to reputation.”
“We have been taught to tremble at the terrific visages of murdering janisaries; and to blush at the unveiled mysteries of a future seraglio.”
“Though the ancient feudal systems were not, strictly speaking, confederacies, yet they partook of the nature of that species of associations.”
“Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.”
“To argue upon abstract principles, that this co-ordinate authority cannot exist, would be to set up theory and supposition against fact and reality.”
“Happy will it be for ourselves, and most honourable for human nature, if we have wisdom and virtue enough, to set so glorious an example to mankind.”
“A well constituted court for the trail of impeachments, is an object not to be desired, than difficult to be obtained in a government wholly elective.”
“Though a wide ocean separates the United States from Europe, yet there are various considerations that warn us against an excess of confidence or security.”
“The truth is, after all the declamation we have heard, that the constitution is itself, in every rational sense, and to every useful purpose, A BILL OF RIGHTS.”
“Time only can mature and perfect so compound a system, liquidate the meaning of all the parts, and adjust them to each other in a harmonious and consistent WHOLE.”
“Has commerce hitherto done anything more than change the objects of war? Is not the love of wealth as domineering and enterprising a passion as that of power or glory?”
“The ability of a country to pay taxes, must always be proportioned, in a great degree, to the quantity of money in circulation, and to the celerity with which it circulates.”
“Can it be supposed, that there would not be found one man, discerning enough to detect so atrocious a conspiracy, or bold or honest enough to apprize his constituents of their danger?”
“"It is a general principle of human nature, that a man will be interested in whatever he possesses, in proportion to the firmness or precariousness of the tenure by which he holds it:"”
“The circumstances that endanger the safety of nations are infinite; and for this reason, no constitutional shackles can wisely be imposed on the power to which the care of it is committed.”
“The security essentially intended by the constitution against corruption and treachery in the foundation of treaties, is to be sought for in the numbers and characters of those who are to make them.”
“There is, perhaps, nothing more likely to disturb the tranquillity of nations, than there being bound to natural contributions for any common object, which does not yield as equal and coincident benefit.”
“The criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity, that without an easy access to exceptions in favour of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel.”
“How is it possible that a government, half supplied and always necessitous, can fulfil the purposes of its institution; can provide for the security, advance the prosperity, or support the reputation of the commonwealth?”
“A constitution is in fact, and must be, regarded by the judges as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body.”
“Civil power properly organized and exerted, is capable of diffusing its force to a very great extent; and can, in a manner, reproduce itself in every part of a great empire, by a judicious arrangement of subordinate institutions.”
“It is, that in a democracy, the people meet and exercise the government in person: in a republic, they assemble and administer it by their representatives and agents. A democracy, consequently, must be confined to a small spot. A republic may be extended over a large region.”