The natural cure for an ill-administration … is a change of men.
Tag: Alexander Hamilton
(1755–1804) The first United States Secretary of the Treasury, a Founding Father, economist, and political philosopher.
At your feet or at your throat
Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people, commencing demagogues and ending tyrants.
Enthusiasm in liberty
There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.
Diversity of enterprise for the wealth of a nation
To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted.
Redressing federal government excess
If the federal government should overpass the just bounds of its authority and make a tyrannical use of its powers, the people, whose creature it is, must appeal to the standard they have formed, and take such measures to redress the injury done to the Constitution as the exigency may suggest and prudence justify.
Instruments of government
The instruments, by which [government] must act, are either the authority of the Laws or force. If the first be destroyed, the last must be substituted; … and where this becomes the ordinary instrument of government, there is an end to liberty.
Proselytizing
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.
The Constitution is the standard
The present Constitution is the standard to which we are to cling. Under its banners, bona fide must we combat our political foes — rejecting all changes but through the channel itself provides for amendments.
Destructive government
Can any reasonable man be well disposed toward a government which makes war and carnage the only means of supporting itself?
Real liberty
We are now forming a Republican form of government. Real Liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments. If we incline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy, or some other form of dictatorship.