Alexander Hamilton

“Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.”

“Unless your government is respectable, foreigners will invade your rights; and to maintain tranquillity, it must be respectable - even to observe neutrality, you must have a strong government.”

“Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of man will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice without constraint.”

“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.”

“Power over a man's subsistence is power over his will.”

“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.”

“It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.”

“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.”

“When avarice takes the lead in a state, it is commonly the forerunner of its fall.”

“It has been frequently remarked, that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country to decide, by their conduct and example, 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.”

“Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments.”

“The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right.”

“When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.”

“Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government.”

“I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man.”

“Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.”

“I think the first duty of society is justice.”

“Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.”

“The honor of a nation is its life.”

“A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous.”