Alexander Hamilton Quotes About Human Nature

Quotes about: Human Nature

• There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Hero, Patriotic, Bravery

  Alexander Hamilton, Donald R. Hickey, Connie D. Clark (2006). “Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder”, p.87, Rowman & Littlefield

• 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.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Power, Rights, Hands

  "The Farmer Refuted" (1775)

• A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Men, Political, Abuse

  Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.84

• As riches increase and accumulate in few hands, as luxury prevails in society, virtue will be in a greater degree considered as only a graceful appendage of wealth, and the tendency of things will be to depart from the republican standard. This is the real disposition of human nature; it is what neither the honorable member nor myself can correct. It is a common misfortunate that awaits our State constitution, as well as all others.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Real, Hands, Luxury

  Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.443

• Great Ambition, unchecked by principle, or the love of Glory, is an unruly Tyrant.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Ambition, Tyrants, Principles

  Alexander Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Correspondence [contin.] 1795-1804; 1777; 1791. Letters of H. G. 1789. Address to public creditors. 1790. Vindication of funding system. 1791”, p.423

• There may be in every government a few choice spirits, who may act from more worthy motives. One great error is that we suppose mankind more honest than they are. Our prevailing passions are ambition and interest.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Ambition, Errors

  Alexander Hamilton (1904). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton”

• A struggle for liberty is in itself respectable and glorious. . . . When conducted with magnanimity, justice and humanity, it ought to command the admiration of every friend to human nature. But if sullied by crimes and extravagancies, it loses its respectability.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Struggle, Justice, Humanity

  Alexander Hamilton, Donald R. Hickey, Connie D. Clark (2006). “Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder”, p.88, Rowman & Littlefield

• Ambition without principle never was long under the guidance of good sense.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Ambition, Long, Principles

  Alexander Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Correspondence [contin.] 1795-1804; 1777; 1791. Letters of H. G. 1789. Address to public creditors. 1790. Vindication of funding system. 1791”, p.423

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

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Animal, Men

  Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1851). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Correspondence [contin.] 1795-1804; 1777; 1791. Letters of H.G. 1789. Address to public creditors. 1790. Vindication of funding system. 1791”, p.541

• In the general course of human nature, A power over a man's subsistence amounts to a power over his will.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Power, Reality, Men

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2009). “The Federalist”, p.518, Harvard University Press

• Has it not. . . invariably been found that momentary passions, and immediate interests, have a more active and imperious control over human conduct than general or remote considerations of policy, utility and justice?

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Justice, Human Nature

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1842). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution, Written in the Year 1788”, p.26

• Take mankind as they are, and what are they governed by? Their passions.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Human Nature, Mankind

  Alexander Hamilton (1962). “Jan. 1787-May 1788.-v. 5.June 1778-Nov. 1789.-v. 6. Dec. 1789-Aug. 1790”

• In all general questions which become the subjects of discussion, there are always some truths mixed with falsehoods. I confess, there is danger where men are capable of holding two offices. Take mankind in general, they are vicious, their passions may be operated upon. We have been taught to reprobate the danger of influence in the British government, without duly reflecting how far it was necessary to support a good government. We have taken up many ideas upon trust, and at last, pleased with our own opinions, establish them as undoubted truths.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Taken, Passion, Men

  "The works of Alexander Hamilton".

• The passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Men, Good Man

  Alexander Hamilton (1973). “Papers”

• The same state of the passions which fits the multitude, who have not a sufficient stock of reason and knowledge to guide them, for opposition to tyranny and oppression, very naturally leads them to a contempt and disregard of all authority.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Human Nature, Fit

  Alexander Hamilton, Donald R. Hickey, Connie D. Clark (2006). “Citizen Hamilton: The Wit and Wisdom of an American Founder”, p.100, Rowman & Littlefield

• Take mankind in general, they are vicious-their passions may be operated upon.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, May, Human Nature

  Alexander Hamilton (1962). “Jan.1787-May 1788”

• A fondness for power is implanted in most men, and it is natural to abuse it when acquired. This maxim, drawn from the experience of all ages, makes it the height of folly to intrust any set of men with power which is not under every possible control; perpetual strides are made after more as long as there is any part withheld.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Men, Long, Abuse

  Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1850). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Miscellanies, 1774-1789: A full vindication; The farmer refuted; Quebec bill; Resolutions in Congress; Letters from Phocion; New-York Legislature, etc”, p.84

• 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.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Men, Principles, Human Nature

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1852). “The Federalist, on the new constitution, written in 1788, with an appendix, containing the letters of Pacificus and Helvidius on the proclamation of neutrality of 1793, also the original articles of confederation and the constitution of the United States”, p.328

• 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; will be less attached to what he holds by a momentary or uncertain title, than to what he enjoys by a durable or certain title; and, of course, will be willing to risk more for the sake of the one, than for the sake of the other.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Men, Risk, Principles

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (1826). “The Federalist: On the New Constitution”, p.399

• Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals for the most part governed by the impulse of passion. This is a truth well understood by our adversaries who have practised upon it with no small benefit to their cause. For at the very moment they are eulogizing the reason of men & professing to appeal only to that faculty, they are courting the strongest & most active passion of the human heart - VANITY!

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Heart, Animal

  Alexander Hamilton, John Church Hamilton (1851). “The Works of Alexander Hamilton: Correspondence [contin.] 1795-1804; 1777; 1791. Letters of H.G. 1789. Address to public creditors. 1790. Vindication of funding system. 1791”, p.541

• These are not vague inferences . . . but they are solid conclusions drawn from the natural and necessary progress of human affairs.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Progress, Human Nature, Affair

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay (2014). “The Federalist Papers”, p.34, Courier Corporation

• The obscurity is much oftener in the passions and prejudices of the reasoner than in the subject.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Passion, Prejudice, Obscurity

  "The Essential Federalist: A New Reading of the Federalist Papers".

• A LAW, by the very meaning of the term, includes supremacy. It is a rule which those to whom it is prescribed are bound to observe. This results from every political association.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Law, Political, Association

  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Quentin P. Taylor, John Jay (1998). “The Essential Federalist: A New Reading of the Federalist Papers”, p.90, Rowman & Littlefield

• To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character.

  Alexander Hamilton

  Spring, Character, Political

  1787-8 The Federalist Papers.

• The inhabitants of territories, often the theatre of war, are unavoidably subject to frequent infringements on their rights, which serve to weaken their sense of those rights; and by degrees, the people are brought to consider the soldiery not only as their protectors but as their superiors.

  Alexander Hamilton

  War, Rights, People

  Alexander Hamilton (1847). “The Federalist, on the New Constitution ... by A. Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. With an Appendix Containing the Letters of Pacificus (A. Hamilton) and Helvidius (J. Madison), on the Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793; the Original Articles of Confederation ... Sixth Edition, Etc”, p.27

Page 1 of 2

← Prev

1

2

Next →

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin